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■/V^^C'- 







IZLAND-SISNroRDi "JVNIOR-'VNIVEiSnT 



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^ ±^J. n/rSc 'rm'/yp' f 




\. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS, 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF 



ENGLISH HISTORY; 



INCLnDING 



NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS: 

FROM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, 



USD 



ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. 



WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS 



BY 

HENRY ELLIS, F.R.S. Skc.S.A. 

KEEPER OP THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



iV THREE VOLUMES. 

VOL. II. 

SECOND EDITION. 



\ >; ; ^ • ' • 






LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR 

HARDING, TRIPHOOK, AND. LEPARD. 



MDCCCXXV. 



S5898B 





























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CONTENTS. 



VOL. 11. 



LETTER 

cn. 
cm. 



CIV. 



cv. 



CVI, 



evil. 



CVIII. 



CIX. 



ex. 



CXI. 



CXII. 



VAGB 

Cardinal Wolsey in his distress to Thomas 
Cromwell 1 

Cardinal Wolsey to Dr. Stephen Gardener, af- 
terwards Bishop of V^chester, respecting 
his pardon . ; • • • 5 

Cardinal Wolsey to Dr. Stephen Gardener; for 
augmentation of income • » 7 

Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener; an- 
other Letter of supplication • }0 

Sang Henry VIII^ to William Lord Dacre^ a. d. 
1530. respecting the reception of Wolsey in 
the North « . /< . i 16 

Queen Catherine of Arragon to her daughter the 
Princess Mary • . • . . 19 

Thomas FrysSy, a canon of Laund abhey, to 
Thomas Cromwell ,, 90 

Thomas Audeley Lord Keeper, to Secretary 
Cromwell, on King Henry Villi's return 
from his Interview with the Prench King. 

A. D. 1552 22 

Sir William Fitzwilliam Treasurer of the House- 
hold, to Secretary Cromwell, that Queen Ca- 
therine of Arragon might keep her Maundy 
as Princess dowager. 25 

The Princess Mary to Secretary Cromwell, in 
fevor of Sir Rice Mansell 29 

King Henry Vlll^ to the Lord Steward and 



VI 



CONTENTS. 



I 



LSTUBR PAGE 

Other Officers of the Household, appointing 
the Diet for the Lady Lucy. a. d. 1 533 .... 30 

cxiii. Letter of Summons to the Lady Cobham to at- 
tend the Coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn 32 
♦ cxiv. Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, to 
M**. Hawkyns the Ambassador at the Empe- 
ror's Court; upon the divorce of Queen Ca- 
therine, and the Coronation of Queen Anne 
Boleyn. a. d. 1 533 33 

cxv. Edward Earl of Derby and Sir Henry Faryng- 
ton to King Henry Vni*^, with the examina- 
tions of certain persons upon slanderous re- 
ports against Queen Anne 41 

« cxvi. Queen Anne Boleyn to Thomas Cromwell, to 
favor Richard Herman, who had been impri- 
soned at Antwerp for giving help to set forth 

the New Testament in English . * 45 

cxvii. Sir Thomas More to King Henry Vin^>; a 

Letter of submission and excuse 47 - 

• cxv.in. Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell, 

upon Queen Anne's committal to the Tower 52 

* cxix. Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, 

on Queen Anne's i>ehaviour in Prison 56 

cxx. Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, 

with further details of the Queen's conduct 59 
^ cxxi. Edward Baynton to the Treasurer: declaring 
that only one person named Mark, will con- 
fess any thing against Queen Anne ........ 61 

cxxii. Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, 
May 16, 1536, upon the preparations for 
the execution • of my Lord Rochford and 

Queen Anne 62 

cxxiii. Sir William Kingston to Lord Cromwell, appa- 
rently May 18, 1556 64 

cxxiy. Lady Rocheford to Secretary Cromwell, pray- 
ing him to intercede for her to have the pro- 
perty of her husband who was executed . . , . 67 



CONTENTS. 



YU 



LETT£B 
CXXT. 

CXXVI« 



CXXVII. 



cxxvin. 



cxxix. 



cxxx. 



CXXXI. 



CXXXII. 



CXXXIII. 



CXXXIV. 



CXXXV. 



TAGS 

John de Ponte, a poor Frenchman, to Seeretary 
Cromwell 68 

Edmund Knightley, and three other Commis- 
sioners, to Secretary Cromwell, in fevor of 

' the Nunnery of Catesby in Northampton shire 7 1 

The Prioress and Convent of the Cistercian 
Nunnery of Legborne in Lincolnshire to their 
Founder, previous to the Dissolution of their 
House. A. D. 1537 74 

Thonias Bedyll to Lord Cromwell, respecting 

• the Monks of the Charter House at London. 

A. D. 1537 76 

Dr. John London, one of the Visitors of Reli- 
gious: Houses, to Lord Cromwell, upon the 
pulling down of the Image of our Lady of 
Caversham, near Reading ; and in favour of 

the Corporation of that Town 79 

Elis Price to Lord Cromwell, to know what he 

• should do^ith the Image of Darvell Gathem. 

A. D. 1538 . . . « • •< . 82 

Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Sir Roger Town- 
shend, to Lord Cromwell, respecting the in- 
tended execution of a Friar at Norwich, for 
denying the King's Supremacy 85 

The Inhabitants of the Lordship of Holm Cul- 
tram in Cumberland, to Lord Cromwell, en- 
treating for the preservation of the Abbey 
Church there, a. d. 1538 89 

John Clusey to Lord Cromwell, in favor of a 
Nun of Shaftesbury, the natural daughter of 
Cardinal Wolsey 91 

John Freeman to Lord Cromwell, upon the 
unnecessary and unlawful fees granted to 
various persons upon the Surrender of the 
Monasteries 93 

Robert Warner to Robert Ratcliff Lord Fitz- 
walter; w Letter of Intelligence from Court 96 



YIU 



COKT£NTg. 



LETTER 
CXXXVI. 



CXXXVII. 
CXXXYUI. 



CXXXIX, 



CXL. 



CXLI. 



CXLII. 



CXUII. 



cxuv. 



CXLV. 



CXLYI. 



CXLVII. 



CXLVin. 



exLix. 



PAGE 

John Lord Russell, to Lord Cromwell, respect- 
ing the trial and execution of the Abbat and 
two Monks of Glastonbury ^. > . 98 

Thomas Lord Cromwell to the Earl of Chester, 
for the extirpation of Gipsies 100 

Eling James Y^ of Scotland to Su: Thomas . 
Wharton, in answer to his Complaints against 
certain scurrilous Ballads, a. n. i 538 103 

Thomas Wyllughby to Lord Cromwell, con- 
cerning hb proceedings against the Rebels in 
the West. a. d. 1539. 104 

William Pennison to concern- 
ing the reception of the Lady Motrell in 
London • , • , * . • « 107 

John Foster, a priest, to Lord Cromwell, upon 
his obedience to the King in putting away a 
wife whom he had married Ill 

Sir Thomas Elyot to Secretary Cromwell, de- . 
tailing the History of his Life 113 

Edward Earl of Hertford, afterwards Protector, 
to Lord Cromwell upon the King's intended 
marriage with the Lady Anne of Cleves, &c. 119 

Nicholas Wotton to King Henry VIIIV*, giving 
an Account of the Person and Accomplish- 
ments of the Lady Anne of Cleves 121 

The Lords of the Council to King Henry VIII«i 
respecting the Lord Lawarre. a. d. 1539. . 123 

Ten Ladies of the Court, to King Henry VIIIt> 
upon visiting His Majesty's new Great Ship 
at Portsmouth 126 

Ottwell Johnson, to his brother John Johnson 
a merchant of the Staple at Calais, describing 
the Execution of Queen Catherine Howard. . 1 28 

King Henry VHI*.**, when before Boulogne, to 
Queen Catherine Parr 130 

Prince Edward to Queen Catherine Parr; a 
Letter of duty • 131 



CONTENTS. 



IX 



LETTSa 
CL. 
CLI. 

CLII. 
CUII. 
CUV. 

CLV. 



CLVI. 



CLVII. 

CLYIII. 

€UX. 

CLX. 
CLXI. 

CLXII. 

CLXUI. 



CLXIV. 



CLXV. 



CLXVI. 



PAGE 

Prince Edward to the Queen : in Latin 152 

Prince Edward to the Queen; a Letter in 
French ; . . . ib. 

Prince Edward to his sister the Princess Mary; 
a Letter of affection, from Hunsdon '. 133 

Prince Edward to his father. King Henry Vlllf^ 
Thanks for Toys, &c. in Latin 135 

Prince Edward to Archbishop Cranmer, in re- 
turn for a Present of a Cup 136 

Henry Radclyf, Earl of Sussex, to his Countess, 
notifying the death of Henry VIII?^ a. d. - 
1547 137 

King Edward YV}^ to Queen Catherine Parr, 
upon the death of King Henry VIIIM^ in La- 
tin 141 

King Edward YK^ to his sister the Princess 
Mary on the same ; in Latin 142 

King Edward VI^ to the Princess Elizabeth 
upon the same, Latin 143 

King Edwsrd VI?> to his Uncle the Earl of 
Hertford 144 

The Princess Elizabeth to King Edward VI^. . 145 

The Princess Elizabeth to King Edward ¥!«» 
with a present of her Portrait 146 

King Edward the Sixth, to the Duke^of Somer- 
set, upon his Successes against the Scotch. . 148 

The Princess Mary to the Lord Admiral Sey- 
mour, declining to interfere in his courtship 
of the Queen dowager 149 

The Queen Dowager to the Lord Admiral Sey- 
mour, while her marriage with him was kept 
secret 151 

The Princess Elizabeth to the Protector Somer- 
set, in favor of her governess, Catherine Ash- 
ley, and concerning the Lord Admiral's pro- 
ject to marry her 153 

The Princess Elizabeth to the Lord Protector, 



CONtENTS. 



LETTER 



CLXVIlJ 



CLXVIII. 



CLXIX. 



CLXX^ 



CLXXI. 



CLXXII. 



CLXXllI. 



CLXXIV. 



CLXXV. 



CLXXVI. 



<?LXXVII. 



CLXXVIII, 



CLXX1X. 



PAGE 

that he is displeased with her Letters, and to 
have rumours against her diecked 155 

The Prinoess Elizabeth to King Edward Vl^h 
upon his recorery from sickness 1 58 

Princess Elizabeth to her brother King Edward 
VI^ in Ladn, from Enfield 160 

The Princess Mary to one of the ~ 

King's Council; a Letter of reproof 161 

The Princess Elizabeth to the Princess Mary ; 
in kindness 165 

The Princess Mary to acknowledging 

kindness received 165 

Divers Lords of the Council in London, to the 
Council at Windsor, professing their purpose 
to remove the Duke of Somerset from the 
Protectorship, a. d. 1549 166 

The Lords of the Council in London to those 
at Windsor, respecting the care of the King's 
person 169 

Archbishop Cranmer, Sir William Paget, and 
Sir Thomas Smith to the Lords of the Coun- 
cil in London, offering terms of accommoda- 
tion 171 

The Lords of the Council in London, to Sir 
William Paget, comptroller of the Household 
respecting the safety of the person of King 
Edward VIV^; and urging him to cause the 
Duke of Somerset to be apprehended 1 73 

The Princess Mary to King Edward VI'.** upon 
receiving the prohibition to use the Mass in 
her Household 176 

The Lady Jane Gray, as Queen, to the Marquis 
of Northampton, Lieutenant of the County 
of Surrey 183 

Second Letter from the Lady Jane as Queen, to 
the Lieutenancy of Surrey 186 

John Hopton Bishop of Norwich to Lord Sas- 



CONTENTS. XI 

XETTER PAGE 

-sex; Upon the belia^our 6f the Curate of 
Old Buckenham, and that the Queen was 

delivered of a Prince 188 

cLxxx. Cardinal Pole to Sir Edward Hastings, a. d. 

1555 191 

cLxxxi. Edwin Bishop of Worcester to Sir William Ce- 
cil afterwards Lord Burghley: with a New- 
Year's gift of a Clock 195 

cLxxxii. Henry Lord Berkeley to the Earl of Sussex, re- 
specting the treatment of his sister the Lady 
Ormond...h 196 

cLxxxiii. Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecill, upon 
the publication of the banns, previous to the 
marriage of Queen Mary with Lord Darnley. 198 

CLxxxiv. Thomas Randolph to the Earl of Leicester, 
from Edinburgh July 51, 1565; giving an ac- 
count of the Marriage of the Queen of Scots 
to Lord Darnley 200 

cLXxxv. Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil: va- 
rious Intelligence 205 

cLxxxvi. The Earl of Bedford and Mr. Thomas Randolph 
to the Privy Council of England, giving an 
Account of the murder of David Rizzio .... 207 

cLxxxvii. Queen Elizabeth, to Sir John Foster respecting 
the Earl of Morton, the Lord Rutbven, and 

their accomplices 223 

CLXxxviiL Mary Queen of Scots to the Lords of Queen 
Elizabeth's Council upon her right in the 
succession 224 

ci.xxxix. Queen Elizabeth to theLady Hoby: condolence 

on the death of her husband « . <• 229 

cxc. Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth; 
written immediately upon her landing at 
Workington in Cumberland: May 17, 1568. 
with a Translation 231 

. cxci. Mary Queen of Scots to Sir William Cecil... . 237 



xu 



CONTENTS. 



L£TT£R 
CXCII. 



CXCIII. 



CXCIV. 



CXCV. 



CXCVI, 



CXCVII. 



CXCVIII. 

X 

CXCIX. 



cc. 



CCI. 



ecu. 



CCIII. 



PAGE 

The Lord Scrope and Sir Francis KnoUys to 
Queen Elizabeth, reporting their first Inter- 
view with the Queen of Scots 338 

Sir Francis KnoIIys to Queen Elizabeth, report- 
ing another Interview with Queen Mary, in 
which he intimated to her that the crime of 
murder might be deemed a just cause for de- 
posing a Sovereign 843 

Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth, a 
Letter of expostulation concerning her in- 
tended removal from Carlisle 246 

The Lord Henrys to Lord Scrope and Sir Fran- 
<ns KnoUys 251 

Mary Queen of Scots to Sir Francis Knollys, 
from Bolton, Sept. 1, 1568: her first Letter 
in English 352 

Bernard Randolph, Common Seijeant of Lon- 
don, to Sir William Cecil; upon the practice 
of a game called Rifling 254 

Bishop Grindal to Sir William Cecil, announcing 
the Death and Funeral of Bishop Bonner., . 257 

Letter of pass, from the Earls of Northum- 
berland and Westmorland to their adherents, 
during the Insurrection of 1569 « 259 

Letter of Warrant from Queen Elizabeth to 
Sir Thomas Smith and Dr. Wilson, for putting 
two of the Duke of Norfolk's Servants to 
the rack 260 

Queen Elizabeth to Lord Burghley, to stay the 
execution of the Duke of Norfolk, a. d. 
1573 262 

Sir Nicholas Bacon to Lord Burghley, respect- 
ing the Queen's coming to his House 264 

The Earl of Bedford to Lord Treasurer Burgh- 
ley, upon an expected visit of the Queen at 
Wobum , 266 



LETTER 
CCIV. 



CCV, 



CCVI. 



CCTIl. 



ccvni, 

CCIX. 



ccx. 



CCXI. 



CCXII. 



CCXIII. 



CCX!lV. 



ccxv. 



CCXTI. 



co>;tekts. xiii 

PAGE 

Archbishop Parker to Lord Treasurer Burghley, 
upon the Queen's coming to Canterbury in 
her intended Progress 267 

Thomas Sackville Lord Buckhurst, to the Earl 
of Sussex, on the expected Visit of the Queen 
at Lewes 271 

The Earl of Leicester to the Earl of Sussex, 
upon an Invitation given by the latter to 
Queen Elizabeth in 1577 272 

Henry Maynard to Mr. (afterwards Sir) Mi- 
chael Hickes, upon the expectation of the 
Queen's coming to M'. Hickes's House du- 
ring her Progress, a. d. 1597 274 

Henry Maynard ,to Mr. Hickes upon the same, ib, 

Henry Maynard to Mr. Hickes with the Lord 
Chamberlaine's advice to leave his House, 
and give it up to the Queen 275 

Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Shrewsbury, 
upon the Appointment of Nave to be Secre- 
tary to the Queen of Scots 277 

Nicholas White to Lord Burghley, ^ving an 
account of the last sickness and death of 
Walter Earl of Essex 279 

William Fleetwood Recorder of London, to 
Lord Burghley, upon the apprehending of a 
number of rogues and masterless men in the 
neighbourhood of London 283 

King James VI^^ of Scotland to Queen Mary his 
mother, expressive of duty 288 

Mr. Recorder Fleetwood to Lord Burghley, 
with various London news 290 

Queen Elizabeth to King James VI^.^ of Scotland, 
Aug. 7^^, 1585; upbraiding him with breaking 
his word 294 

Mr. Recorder Fleetwood to Lord Treasurer 
Burghley; upon Sessions-Proceedings of the 
City, a School for Pickpockets in London, &c. 29^ 



XIV CONTENTS. 

LETTER PAGE 

ccxvii. Sir Francis Drake to Lord Burghley, upon miss- 
ing the King of Spain's Treasure 304 

ccxviii. Serjeant Fletewood to Lor4 Burghley, on an 

Insurrection of the Apprentices of London . . 306 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT 

IN LORD BURGHLEY's HAND, 
FOR THE 

TRIAL OP THE QUEEN OF SCOTS: 

FORMING 

THE FRONTISPIECE TO THIS VOLUME. 



*• The upper end of the Gret Chambre at Fordynghay Cast. 

" The doth of State 
w* a cha3nr 
for the Q. of 
: :^ England. ; 

L !^ n ' ni ! 

§* e 5* & '8iof[9«ano3 laipo 

'^^ll "Achayerfor Zwj«"ojv» 



g; 1 the Q. of Scotts. 



»• 



" A ray le as is in the Parliment 



•S ^ •* * Chamber. 

§ I 3 SS* "7yardavel 

^8*1^1 21 foote. 



S. !$ 



'* The nether part for all persons 
^ not being in Commission nor 

^ of the Q. lemed Coims^" 



BdoWf in anotJter hand, apparently in anawer to Lord BurgMe^a direction, is the 
fuUounng: 

** This wilbe most convcnientlye in the greatt Chambre; the lengthe whereof is 
in all xxiy. yerds with the windowe: whereof there may be fr. the neither part 
beneth the barre vi^. yerds : and the rest for the upper parte. The breadeth of 
the chamber is vij. yerds. 

" There is another chambre for the Lords to dyne in, the lengthe is xiiij. yerds ; 
the breadeth vij yerdes ; and the deppeth iij. ycrdeg dim." 



LETTERS 



OF 



THE REIGN OF 



KING HENRY THE EIGHTH 



CONTINUED, 









J ■* u 



<* • 



i " "^ ^ 



ORIGINAL LETTERS, 



ETC. 



LETTER CII. 

Cardinal Wdsey in his distress to Thomas CromweU, 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. xiii. foL 76. Orig*] 

*«* The Letter here presented to the reader was printed some years 
ago, hy the Editor of the present Volumes, in the Archsologia of the 
Society of Antiquaries. «^ 

Wolsey, who knew the talents of Cromwell, seems to have placed great 
reliance on his integrity and affection. Cromwell, according to Cavendish 
in his life of Wolsey, became a member of the lower House of Parliament 
in the m(mth of November 1529, within a short time from which the 
present Letter must have been written. He appears to have protected 
his master in the Lower House widi great dexterity and address. 

Fox, in his Acts and Monuments, has related an anecdote of Cromwell 
which may be worth introducing here. It occurred in 1540, at the table 
of Archbishop Cranmer, when certain guests were making a comparison 
of the qualities of the two prelates Cranmer and Wolsey. '^ The Lord 
Cromwell being somewhat touched to hear the Cardinal's service cast in 
his teeth," said '' that he could not deny but he was servant sometime to 
Cardinal Wolsey, neither did rep«it the same, for he received of him both 
fee, meate, and drinke, and other commodities : but yet he was never so 
hsre in love ¥dth him as to have waited on him to Rome if he had been 
chosen Pope.'* 

Myn owne enterly belouyd Cromwell, I beseche yow, 
as ye loue me and wyl euyr do any th3mg for me, re- 

VOL. II. B 



• • 



• •• 

• • * 
> • • 
•• • 



• • 



2 . •* OR4£lINAL LETTERS. 

• • •• • 
• • •• 

pare fi^'her-'thys day as sone as the Parlement ys bro- 
, , :%yn V p, le3nig aparte all thjmgs for that tjone ; for I 
',, *| •. 'wold nut onely commjmycat th3nigs vnto yow wherin 
for my comfort and relief I wold haue your good, sad, 
dyscret aduyse and counsell, but also opon the same 
commytt sertyng thyngs requjrryng expedicion to yow, 
on my behalf to be solycytyd : this, I pray yow therfor, 
to hast your commjmg hyther assafore, with owt omyt- 
tyng so to do as ye tendyr my socor, reliff, and com- 
fort, and quyetnes of mynde* And thus fare ye wel : 
from Asher, in hast, thys Satyrday, in the momyng, 
with the rude hande and sorowfiill hert of your as- 
suryd louer 

T. CAE"» EBOR. 

I haue also serteyn thjmgs consemyng yowr sylf 
wych I am suere ye wolbe glad to here and knowe : 
fiayle not therfor to be here thys nygth, ye may retome 
early m the momyng ageyn yf nede shul so requyre. 
Et iterum vale. 

M. Agu8te3ai* shewyd me how ye had wryttyn onto 
me a Lettre wherin ye shuld adu'tyse me of the com- 
rayng hyther of the Duke of Norfolke : I assure yow 
ther cam to my hands no suche Lettre. 

• AngustiDus de Augustinis, or M'. Augustine as he is more usually called, -was the 
Cardinal's Physician. In the Cottonian Manuscript Titus B. x* foL 365. there is a 
Letter of his, to Thomas Cromwell, in Italian, requiring speedy medical assistance., 
apparently for Cardinal Wolsey. It is dated Asher, Jan. 18«i>. 1629-30. 






ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3 



LETTER cm. 

Cardinal Wcisey to D". Stephen Gardener^ afterwards 

Bishop of Winchester. 

[m8. LAN8DOWNE BRIT. Mus. 1296. art 12. Ofig.'\ 

*«* Wdsey, in the fatal veverse oi his fortunes wae entirely deserted 
by the Nobility. In his elevation he had treated them with scorn and rude- 
ness; and the consciousness of this added much to his dejection. When 
the blow of adversity first fdl upon him he seems to have believed that no 
fiknds were left to him in the woHd but Ckomwell and Gardener. 

Skdton has enlarged upon Ms txeatmentof the Nobility in his *^ Why 
come ye not to Goorte :*' 

" The Erie of Northumberland 
Dsre take nothing on hand. 
CMir barons be bo bolde. 
Into a moiue hole they wold 
Ruiine away and creep* 
lAki a mainy of sheep : 
Date not loke out a dur 
For drede of the maystife cur. 
For drede of the boucher's dog. 

** For and this curre do gnar. 
They must fitande all afar 
Ta holde up their hand at the bar. 
For all their noble bicmde 
He pluckes them by the hood. 
And shakes them by the eare, 
And Ixyngs them in such feare ; 
He bayteth them lyke a Deare, 
Like an Ox or a Bui ; 
Their witteiB he sayth are dul ; 
He saytii they have no brayne 
Their estate to maintaine : 
And make to bowe the knee 
Before his Majestie.'* 

But Wolsey carried his hauteur even further than this ; as another 
extract from Skelton will show, respecting the waiting of persons who 
attended him on business : 

" My Lord is not at layser. 
Syr ye must tary a stound 
Tyl better layser be found ; 
And Syr ye must daunce attendance. 
And take patient suflferaance, 

B 2 



* ORIGINAL LETTFRS. 

For my Lords Grace 
Hath now no time nor tytace 
To speak wit!) you as yet. 
And tlius they shal syt, 
Chiue them syt or flU, 
Stand, walke, or ride 
And his laiser abide 
Pardiaunoe half a jfere. 
And yet never the nere." 

And that this Picture is not overchaiged appears from a letter of Tho- 
mas Allen chaplain to the Earl of Shrewshory, a copy of which has heen 
preserved by bishop Kennett in one of the Volumes of his Manuscripts 
now in the Lansdowne Collection & . The original was written about the 
month of April 1517. 

'^ Pleseth your Lordship to understande upon Monday was sennight 
last past I delivered your Letter with the examinacyon to my Lord Car> 
dynall at Ghiilford, whence he commanded me to wait on him to the Court ; 
J followed him, and there gave attendance, and could have no aunswer. 
Upon Friday last he came &om thence to Hampton Court, where he lyeth. 
The morrow after I besought his Qrace I might know his plesure ; I could 
have no answer. Upon Mondaye last as he walked in the parke at 
Hampton Court, I besought his Grace I might knowe if he wolde com- 
mand me anye service. He was not content with me that I spoke to hym. 
So that who shall be a suitour to him may have no other busynesse but 
give attendance upon his plesure. He Uiat shall so doe, it is nedefull 
should be a wyser man then I am. I sawe no remedy, but came without 
answere, excepte I wolde have done as my Lord Dacre's servaunt doth, 
who came with Letters for the Kynges service^ve moneihs since and yet 
hath no answere : and another Servaunt of the Deputy of Calais likewyse 
who came before the other to Walsingham I heard, when he aunswered 
them, " If ye be not contente to tary my leysure, departe when ye wille." 
This is truthe. I had rather your Lcndship commaunded me to Rome 
then deliver him letters, and bring aunpwers to the same. When he 
walketh in the parke he will suffer no servaunt to come nyghe him, but 
commands them awaye as farre as one might shoote an arrowe." 

After this statement, no one will wonder that Wolsey should have been 
forsaken by the nobility and courtiers. £ven Cavendish says, ^^ I assure 
you, in his time he was the haughtiest man in all his proceedings alive." 

The bishoprick of Winchester, which is more than once mentioned in 
these Letters, and which the King sufiered him nominally to retain, was 
one of the last of the numerous preferments which Wolsey accumulated 
before his falL The temporalities were restored to him as late as the 6th. 
and he wa» installed in it on the 1 1th. of April 1529. 

• MS. Lansd. Brit. Mus. 978. fbi. 213. 



ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 



My owne goode Mastyr Secretary, aftyr my moste 
herty recommendacions, with lycke thanks for your 
goodness towards me, thes shalbe to advirtyse yow 
that I have beyn informyd by my trusty frende Tho- 
mas Crowmuell that ye have sygnyfied unto hym to 
my synguler consolaeions howe that the Kyngs Hygh- 
nes, mouyd with pity and compassyon, and of his ex- 
cellent goodnes and cheryti consyder3mg the lamen- 
table condicion and stat that I stand yn, hath wyllyd 
yow with other lords and mastyrs of hys honorable 
Cownsell to intende to the perfygttjmg and absolvyng, 
without further tract or delay, of myn end and ap- 
poyntment, and that my pardon shulde be made in 
the most ample forme that my cownsell cowde de- 
vyse; for thys the Kyngs moste gracyous remem- 
braunce, procedyng of hymsylf, I accompte my sylf 
not onely moste bowndyn to serve and pray for the 
preservation of hys moste Royal Majeste, but also 
thancke God that ye have occasyon govyn unto you 
to be a sollycyter and setter forth of such thjmgs as 
do and shall conserve my said ende, in the makyng 
and compownyng whereof myn assuryd trust ys that 
ye wele shewe the love and affeccion wych ye have and 
bere towards me your old lover and frende. So de- 
claryng your sylf therin that the world may perceive 
that by your good meanys the Kyng ys the better 
goode Lorde unto me ; and that, nowe, newly in ma^ 
ner commyrig to the world, ther may be such respect 



6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

had to my poore degre, olde age, and longe cont3muyd 
servys, as shal be to the Kyngs hygh honor and your 
gret prayse and laude, wyeh undo wttydly shal folowe 
yf ye extende yowr beny volence towards me and mine, 
perceiving that by your wysdom and dexteryte I 
shalbe releuyd and in this my calamyte holpyn. At 
the reverens therfor of Grod, myn owne goode M. 
Secretary and refuge, nowe set to your hande that I 
may come to a laudable ende and reposse ; seyng that 
I may be fumyshyd aftyr suche a sorte and maner as 
I may ende my short tjnme and lyff to the honor of 
Cryst's Churche and the Prince. And, besydys my 
dayly prayer and true hert, I shal so requyte your 
kyndnes as ye shal haue cause to thyncke the same to 
be wel imployed, lycke as my seyde trusty firende shal 
more amply shewe unto yow to whom yt may please 
yow to give for me credens and loving audience : and 
I shall pray for the increase of your hcmor. Wryttyn 
at Asher with the tremylling hand and hevy hart of 
your assuryd lover and bedysman. 

T. CAE"s EBOR. 

To the rygth honorable and my synguler 
goode frende Master Secretary, 



ORIGINAL LETI'KRS. 



LETTER CIV. 

Cardinal Wclsey to D^. Stephen Gardener, 

[m8. mus. ashmol. oxon. Orig,} 



My owne goode mast}rr Secretary a£t}nr my moste 
herty oommendacons I pray you at the reverens of 
God to help, that exspedicion be usyd in my presents, 
the delay wherof so replctiyssheth my herte with hevy- 
nes, that I can take no reste; nat for any vayne fere, 
but onely for the miserabli condycion that I am pre- 
sently yn, and lyclyhod to contynue in the same onles 
that ye, in whom ys myn assuryd truste, do help and 
releve me therein ; for fyrst contynuyng here in thyis 
moweste* and corrupt eyer, beyng enteryd in to the 
passyon of thedropsy, cum prostratione appetitus, et con- 
tintio insompntis, I cannat lyve ; wherfor of necessy te 
I muste be removyd to summe other dryer eyer and 
place, wher I may have comodyte of Physycyans. 
Secondly havyng but Yorke, wych ys now decayd by 
viijCJ' by the yeere I can nat tell how to lyve and kepe 
the poore nombyr of folks wych I nowe have; my 
howsys ther be in decay, and of every thyng mete for 
howsold onprovidyd and fumyshyd. I have non ap- 
parell for my howsys ther, nor money to br3nig me 

> ■ liaoist. 



8 ORIGINAL L£TT£B8. 

thether, nor to lyve with tyl the propysse* tyme of the 
year shal come to remove thither. Thes thyngs con- 
syderyd, M'. Secretary, must nedys make me in agony 
and hevynes; myn age therwith and sycknes consy- 
deryd. Alas M'. Secretary, ye with other my lordys 
shewyd me that I shuld otherwyse be fumyshyd, and 
seyn unto. Ye knowe in your lemjmg and consyens 
whether I shuld forifit my spiritualties of Wynchester 
or no. Alas the qualy tes of myn oflFencys consyderyd, 
with the gret punisshement and losse of goodes that I 
have sustignyd, owt to move petyfull hertys. And the 
moste nobyl Kyng, to whom yf yt wold please ytfw of 
your cherytabli goodnes to shew the premyses aftyr 
your accustomable wysdom and dexteryte, yt ys nat 
to be dowettyd but hys Hyhnes wold have consydera- 
con and compassion, aggmentyng my lyvyng, and ap- 
poyntyng such thyngs as shuld be convenyent fOT my 
furniture ; wych to do shalbe to the Kyngs high honer, 
meryte, and dyscharge of consyens ; and to yow gret 
praysse for the bryngyng of the same to passe for your 
olde brynger up and lovyng firende. Thys kyndnes 
exibite from the Kyngs Hyghnes shal prolong my lyff 
for sum lytyl whyl, thow yt shall nat be long ; by the 
meane wherof hys Grace shal take profygtt, and by my 
deth non. What ys yt to hys Hyhnes to geve summe 
dbnvenyent porcion owt of W3nichester and Seynt 
Albons, hys Grace takyng with my herty good wyl the 

■ propitious. 



ORIGINAL LI^tXEKS. 9 

resydue.* Remembyr, good M*^ Secretary, my poore 
degre and what servys I have done : and how nowe 
approchyng to deth I must begyn the world ageyn. I 
beseche yow therfor, movyd with pity and compas- 
syon, soker me in thys my calamyti, and to your 
power, wych I do knowe ys gret, releve me : and I 
with all myn shall not onely ascrybe thys my relef unto 
yow, but also pray to God for the increase of your ho- 
nor. And as my poore^ shal increase, so I shal not 
fayle to acquyte yo'^ kyndnes. Wryttyn hastely at 
Asher with the rude and shackyng Hand of your dayly 
bedysman and assuryd frende. 

T. CAE".« EBOR. 

To the rygth honorable 
And my assuryd frende 
Mastyr Secretary. 

• In Ryiner« tom. xiv. p. 371. is an Indenture between the King and Cardinal Woi- 
'sey. that the lattor should give up the Bishoprick of Winchester and Abbey of S*. 
Albans, and have one thousand marks yearly allowed him in lieu thereof. The In- 
denture recites that the King had previously givoi the Cardinal certain sums of mo- 
ney, goods, and chattels, to the amoimt and value of L6d74. 3. 7H; tl^e schedule of 
which follows, p. 375. viz* 

** Fyrste in redy Money mmm'** 

*' Item, in Plate nyne thousand f^ve hundred thtescore fyve os. dim. quar- 
ter, at iij*. eight pence the oz. amounteth to mdccliiU. iij*. vj^. 06. 

'* Item, dyvers Apparell of Houshold, as Hangyngs, Beddyng, Napry, and 
other thyngs, as appereth by the Inventorie of the same, amoimtyng in value, by 
estimation nccc^. 

" Item, in Horses and Geldyngs Ixxx. with their apparell valued by estima- 
tion CL**. 

" Item, in Mules for the Saddell iv. with their appar^, valued by estimation 

LX«. 

'* Item, in Mules for cariage vi. with their apparell, valued by estimation xl". 
** Item, in Lyngon thousand, valued by estimation l^ 
** Item, in Cod and Haberden eight hundred, valued by estimation xhK 
** Item, in Salt eight waye, valued by estimation x^^. 

" Item, in Implementes of the Kycheu« as Potts, Pannes, Spitts, Peawter 
Vessel, and other things necessarie for the same, valued by estimation lxxx". ' 
'* Item, lii. Oxen, valued by estimation lxxx^> 
** Item, injtfuttonslxx. valued by estimation xii'*. 
" Item, the Apparell for his Body, valued by estimation ccc". 

*• Summa vj.ii.ccr, Ixxiv^. iij». vii*. ob." 
^ power. 



10 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CV. 

Cardinal Wcisey to Secretary Gardener. 

[us. MUS. ASHMOL. Orig,'\ 



My owne goode mastyr Secretary goyng this day 
owt of my pue to sey masse, your lettres datyd yester- 
nygth at London wer delyveryd unto me, by the con- 
tynue wherof I undyrstand that the Kyngs Hyhnes of 
hys excellent goodnes and cheryte ys contentyd that 
I shal inyoy and have the admynistracon of Yorke 
merly, with the gyftts of the promocyons spiritual and 
temporall of the same ; reservyd onely onto hys no- 
byll Grace the gyft of v or vj of the best promocons : 
and that hys pleasure ys I shal leve Wynchester and 
Saynt Albons. As hereonto Master Secretary I can 
nat expresse howe moche I am bowndyn to the Kyngs 
Royal Maieste for thys hys gret and bowntawse libcr- 
alyte, reputyng the same to be moche more than I 
schal evyr be abyl to deserve. Howbeyt yf hys Ma- 
ieste, consyderyng the short and lytyl tyme that I shal 
ly ve here in thys world, by the reason of suche hevy- 
lies as I have conceyved in my hert, with the minyuose 
of the olde howsys, and the decay of the seyd arch- 
byshoprych at the lest to the summe of viij C marcke 
yerely, by^the reason of the Act passyd for fynys of 
testaments; with also min longpeynful servys and poore 



OttlGtl^AL LETTERS. II 

degre; and for the declaracion of hys Graces excellent 
cheryte, yf hys hyhnes be myndyd I shal leve Wyn- 
chester and Saynt Albons wych I supposyd when I 
made my Submyssyan, not offendyng in my treweth 
towards hys royal parson, dygnyti, or majeste royal, I 
shuld not now have deaervyd to have left; and moche 
the more know3rng hys Graces excellent propensyon 
to pyte and mercy, and rememberyng of the francke 
departyng with of all that I had in thys world; that I 
may have summe convenyent pencion reservyd unto 
me, suche as the Kyngs hyhnes of hys nobyl charite 
shal thjmke mete; so orderyng hys that shal succede 
and my lyvyng, that the same may be of lyck value 
yeerly and exstent. Wherat my trust ys and my 
herte so gevyth me, that hys Majeste wole make no 
dyfficultie )rf yt may lycke yow frendly to propone the 
same; assuryng yow that I desyre nat thys for any 
mynde, God ys my jugge, that I have to accumulat 
good, or desjre that I have to the muke of the world; 
sen God be thankyd, at this ower, I set no more by 
the ryches and promocyons of the world than by the 
roshe undyr my fote; but onely for the declaration 
of the Kyngs honor and hyhe charyte, and to have 
wherewith, to do good dedys, and to helpe my poore 
servants and kynnysfolks. And furthermore that yt 
wold please the Kyngs excellent goodnes by your 
freindly medyacion, consyderyng how slendyrly I am 
furnyshyd in my Howse, nowe specially that the appa- 



12 ORIGINAL LETTKKS. 

rell of Wynche8ter and Saynt Albons shalbi^ takyn 
from me, to geve and appoynt on to me a convenyent 
femyture for the same, non ad pompam sed necessa- 
riam honestatem : and yf I may have the free gyft and 
dyssposycion of the benefyces, yt shalbe gretly to my 
comfort. And yet when any of the v or vj princypall 
shal fortune to be voyd, the Kyngs Grace beyng 
myndyd to have any of them, hys hyhnes shalbe as 
sure of the same as thougth they wer reservyd. And 
thus by hys nobyl and mercyful goodnes delyvaryd 
owt of extreme calamyte, and restoryd to a newe fr^ 
dome, I shall, with Gods mercy and help, so ordyr my 
lyff, that I trust hys Majeste shal take special comfort 
theran, and be pleasyd with the same. Spero quod 
hccc qiUB peto non videbuntur magna. Howbeyt I 
moste humbly submyt and refferre all my petycions, 
immo ipsam mUrni^ to hys gracyous ordynance and 
pleasure, prayng yow to declare and sygnyfye the 
same, supplying myn indyssposcycon and lack of wyt 
conceyvyd by reason of my extreme sorowe and hevy- 
nes, that the same may be to the Kyngs contentacion; 
whom I had lever be ded than to ofende in worde, 
thowgth, or dede. And as towchyng the grantyng of 
the fee of one C" for M"[ Nores duryng hys lyff for 
hys good servys done unto the Kyng^s hyhnes, for the 
wych I have alweyes lovyd hym, and for the singler 
good hert and mynde that I knowe he hath allweys 
borne unto me, I am content to make owt my graunte 



ORIGINAL LETTEES. 13 

opon the same, ye and yt wol please the Kyng to in- 
^gc y t to one C'« more : and semblably, cause M. 
Thesauror hath the kepjmg of the Kyngs game nygth 
to Femam, I wold gladly yf yt may stand with the 
Kyngs pleasure grawnte onto hjnm the revercion of 
such thinges as the lorde Sands hath ther, with the 
ampliacion of the fee, above that wych ys oldely accus- 
tomyd, to the summe of xl^ by the yeer : and also I " 
wold gladly geve to M^ Comptroller a lycke ffee : and 
to M' Russell anothyr of xx^* by the yeere : remyt- 
tyng thys and all other my suts to the Kyng's Hyhnes 
pleasure, mercy, pity, and compassyon ^oste holly. 
Besechyng hys Hyhnes so nowe gracyously to ordyr 
me that I may from hens forth serve God quyetly and 
with reposse of mynd, and pray as I am moste bown- 
dyn for the conservacion and increase of hys most no- 
byll and royal astat. And thus with my dayly prayer 
I byd yow farewell. From Asher hastely, wit;h the 
rude hand and moste hevy hert of yowr assuryd frend 
and bedysman 

T. CAR''" EBOR. 

To the rygth honorable 
M^ Secretary^ in hast. 



In the second of these Letters to Ghodener (p. 7.) Wolsey laments the 
loss of his goods more than once. ^' I have none apparel for my Houses.*' 
And, m another place (p. 8.) : '^ Alas the qualities of mine offences con- 
sideied, with the great punishment and loss of goods that I have sustain, 
cd, ought to move pitiful hearts 



»» 



14 OKItflKAL LETTEKS. 

C'avcnclbh is minute upon the laying out and surrender ofWoUey'shouae^ 
hold-property atM'^estniinster before he left for Asher. Mentiooing the in- 
terview between the Cardinal and the Dukes of Suflblk andNorfolk, he sayi, 

'^ Then my Lorde delhrered onto them th* Great Seak, and waa con- 
tent to obey the Kings commandment, and to depart simply, taking with 
him nothing but only oertaine protision for hia House ; sayhig that tb« 
King intended to come thither within two or three dayn. 

^^ And after long talk between him and the Dukes, they departed with 
0ie Great Seal of Englande unto Windsor, and brought the same unto 
the King. Then went my Lord Gaidinal and called his offlcent before 
him, and took account of them for all such stuff and things whereof they 
had charge. And in his gallery were set divers tables, whereupon lay « 
great number of goodly rich stafb ; as whole pieces of silk of lil co- 
lours, velvet, satten, damask, tufled taffeta, grograine, sarcenet, and other 
things, now not in remembrance; also there lay on these taUea a thousand 
pieces of fine Holland cloth, whereof as he reported after, there was fivs 
hundred of the said pieces of doth stolne, and conveied away from the 
King and him ; yet there was laid upon eveiy table Books, moilf In moM- 
ner of Inventories, reporting the number and contents of the same. And 
even so there were Books made in manner of Inventories of all things her^ 
after rehearsed, wherein he toke great pains to set all difhg^ in order 
against the Kings coming. Also he hanged all the walls of the Gallery 
on die one side, with cloth of gold, doth of tissewe, doth of silver, and 
with rich cloth of baudekin of divers colours. Also on the other side wete 
hanged the richest suite of copes of his owne'provision (made for hisCk>l- 
ledges of Oxenfbrde and Ipswidie) that ever I saw in Englande. Then 
had he two chambers adjcnning to the Chdlery, the <»ie oaUed mdst oomt 
monly the Gilt Chamber, and the other the Counsell Chamber, wherein 
were set up two broad and long tables, upon tressds, whereupon was set 
such a number of plate of all sortes,^as was almost incredible In the 
Gilt Chamber were set out upon the table nothing but gilt plate; and upon 
a cupAxwrd and in a window, was set no plate but all gold very rich. 
And in the Counsell Chamber was all white and pared gilt plate*; and 
under the table in baskets was all old broken silver plate, not esteemed 
worthy to be occupied as plate, but as broken silver ; and Books set bye 
them, purporting every kynd of plate, and every parcel, with the content 
of the ounces thereof. Thus was all things furnished and prepared, giving 
the charge of all the said stuff with all other things renudning in every 
office to be delivered to the King, as well unto divers persons in whom he 
put his trust, as to one in especial of his officers, in every office of his 
House, to make answer to their charge, charged in their indenture of the 
parceh; for the order was such, that every officer was charged with the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 15 

receipt of the stuff belonging to their office b j indenture. Then all things 
being ordered, as it is before rehearsed, My LoKlprepared him to depart 
by water.'*a 

Among the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum, one of these* 
very Books made in the manner of Inventoiiies is stiU preserved**. 
The Reader will not be displeased with an account of it. 

The Vc^me is of the folio size fairly written with occasional alterations 
as particular articles might have been given away or otherwise disposed 
of; much of the furniture also has its history, of whom it was bought, or 
who it had belonged to. 

The Hangings of arras and tapestry are all minutely described, with the 
several subjects worked in each ; many of them *•*• bordered with my Lordes 
Umes:" and great quantities are specified as brought from Hampton 
Court. The subjects were mostly scripturaL Of six Pieces of the His- 
tory of King David '^ the third pece is the Wesshyng of Barsaby at the 
Lavatory." The Stories of " The Forlorn Son," Hannibal, and St. 
George, also occur : and what the reader will probably think somewhat 
emblematical of Wolsey's fate, " The Wheel of Fortune.'* The Legate's 
Chamber at Hampton Court, it appears, was hung with the seven deadly 
Sins; and no less than ^' twenty one pieces of hangings of the Story of 
Jacob and Joseph" are noticed, ^' bordered with my Lorde's Armes," 
provided for the G^ery at York Place, which it is stated had fourteen 
windows. 

There were other Hangings of green and red Say; Cloths of State; 
Traverses of velvet, sarsenet, and doth; Beds of figured and paned velvet; 
satin, damask, and sarsenet Counterpaines, Coverlids, and Quilts, one 
'^ with my Lordes 4-nne8, and a crown of thorns in the midst ; Feather, 
bedds, Beds of down, Mattrasses^ Blankets, and Sheets innumerable ; Ta. 
ble^carpets. Foot-carpets, Cup-beard carpets, and Window carpets of silk, 
arras, and wool; Carpets received from Venice; Chairs of State and Cu- 
shions of doth of tissue, and cloth of gold, fringed with silk and gold. 

So minute is the Inventory that we have even *•*• Stufifelost, and in whose 
defaulted and stofie cut and altryd to divers purposes." Some of the Beds 
which are enumerated had names, a» the Beds eallied the In^telage, and 
the Sun. 

Of Linen we find BoaKUdothes, Capboard.^dothes, Neek-towds, and 
washing towels, with twenty dooen of Ntq^kins of diaper. 

Leather Cases for trussing Beds: these latter being articles of fiimi. 
tttie which often moved with a Hoasehold. 

• Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, D». Wordesw. edit. pp. 447, 448. 
k Harl. MS. 509. 



16 OaiGINAL LETTJCRS. 

Of the Tables and Formes, one or two only were of cypress wood ; the 
generality were of wainscot or fur. 

Of smaller unplements of household use, we find eight pair of Andirons 
of brass and item, having roses and my Lord*s Arms ; six pair of Andirons 
with my Lorde's Arms and Cardinal's Hats at the tops; eighty four 
plates of latten and iron ^* to set candels in ; fyre forkes, fyre-pans, and 
tonges; pewter basins for chambers, some bought against the Kings, and 
some against the Emperor's coming to Hampton Court.'* One fire skreen 
of wicker occurs ; and, at Hampton Court, ^^ a Clok with all things there- 
unto belonging," with^' an Instrumente of Musyke for my Lordes grete 
dyenyng chambei." 

This Volume contains also an Inventory of what is called the '^ Chapdl 
Stuffe," among which a great pair of Organs, and two smaller pair, occur; 
with a table of wainscot and a pair of tressels toset the Organs on : Images 
of Saints; Candlesticks; BeUs; Censers; Vestments; &.c. The whole 
forming an enumeration of Furniture, of equal if not superior magnificence 
to any thing which could then be found in the King's own Palaces^. The 
rigour with which the forfeiture of aU this fell upon Wolsey may be ima- 
gined better than described. 



LETTER CVI. 



King Henry the Eighth to William Lard Dacre, 

A. D. 1530. 

[ms. cot t ok. calio. b. VII. fol. 150. Orig,] 

*4* When the Courtiers had persuaded Henry to banish Wolsey to the 
Nordi, the King's favor had not entirely forsaken him. The following 
was one of the circular Letters sent upon the occasion to the greater no- 
bility of the Country. The Signature at the top was impressed by one of 
the Stamps, already mentioned, in imitation of Henry's hand. 

Nor must it be forgotten that, at the time of Wolsey's departure, the 

• It is believed that the only fragments of Wolsey's Tapestry now remaining, are 
those which decorate a large Room known by the name of the Board of Green Cloth 
Room, at the east end of the Great Hall at Hampton Court. The subjects are chiefly 
allegorical. Wolsey's Arms occur upon these pieces two or three times ; once with 
the Cardinal's Hat and usual cordons above ; and once impaling the old Arms of the 
See of York. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17 

King fiiniiflhed him with money. '^ Sh'ewe my Lord/* said the King to 
Cromwell, that ^' althoughe our Counsell have assigned no somme of mo- 
ney, for to beare his charge, yet ye shall shewe him in my behalfe, that I 
have sent a tfaowsand poundes of my benevolence; and tell him that he 
shall not lacke; and bid him be of good cheare.'* » 



Henry R. By the King. 

Right trusty and welbeloved we grete.you well: 
and forasmoche as the most reverend fader in God our 
right trustly and right entierly welbeloved the Lord 
Cardinall Archebisshop of York dothe now repayre 
into those partyes, mynding to reside in that his Pro- 
vince for the bettre administration of the cure to hym 
committed, which now of long season hathe ben or- 
bate*^ and destitute of an archebisshop there resident; 
and consequently it shalbe the more nedeful unto hym 
to have the favorable and lovyng assistance of the no- 
ble men and other in those partyes: We therfor wol 
and desyre youe not oonely to shewe yourself unto 
hym from tyme to tyme of toward and benevolent 
myhde, using, entreatyng, and accepting hym as to 
his dignitie dothe- apperteyn, but also in suche things 
as shall conceme either the administration of hys sayd 
cure or the fortheraunce of hys owne reasonnable 
causes, with the good ordre of hys church, and things 
apperteynyng to the same, ye woU be to hym con- 
forting, ayding, helping, and assisting, as we specyally 

• Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, Wordesw. edit. p. 433. •> bereaved. 

VOL. II. C 



18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

trust youe. Yeven under our Signet at our Castell 
of Wyndesore the xxviij'* daye of Marche. 

To the richt trusty and 
weH)ilove<l the Lord Dacre 
our Counsaillor. 



WoLSE Y in retirement appears to have been, for a short time, a happier 
man than Wolsey in his grandeur. He laid aside all proud demeanor, 
while those bhmdishments which in early days had made him so acceptable 
at Court, in his latter days rendered him popular in the Country among 
people who had, till that time, only heard his name to hate him. 

Upon his first arrival at York, he was compelled to reside in one of the 
prebendary*s houses, while the Palace underwent repair ; but removing 
into it a Uttle before Whitsuntide 1530, he "there continued," says Caven- 
dish " all the most parte of that summer, not without great resorte of the 
most worshipful of the country. And diverse noblemen, having occasion 
to repaire into the same country then, thought it good to visit my lord as 
they travailed through the coimtry, of whom they were most gladly enter- 
tained, and had right good cheer ; whose noble and gentle behaviour caused 
him to have much love in the country of all kinde of people. He kept 
there a noble house, where was bothe plenty of meat and drinke for all 
comers, and also much almes given at the gate to the poore of the towne 
and country. He used much charity and clemency among his tenants, and 
other of the King*s subjects. Although the hearinge thereof were not 
pleasant in the eares of such as bare him no good will, yet the country and 
common people will say as they find cause ; for now he was very much 
femlliar among all persons who then accustomably kept him company, and 
glad at any time when he might do them any good. He made many agree- 
ments and concords bet weene gentleman and gentleman, and betweene some 
gentlemen and their wives, and other meane persons, the which had been long 
before asunder in great trouble ; making for every of them, as occasion did 
serve, great assemblies and feastes ; not sparing his purse, when he might 
make a peace and amity ; which gat him much love and fidendship in the 
country." 

The truth of this favourable representation is confirmed in an extract 
which D^ Wordsworth has quoted from a W^ork intitled ^' A Remedy for 
Sedition," printed in 1536, and which is too curious to be omitted here. 
" Who was less beloved in the Northe than My Lord Cardynall, God have 
his sowle, before he was amonges them ? Who better beloved, after he had 



OUIGINAL LETTERS. 19 

ben there a while ? We hate oft times whom we have good cause to love. 
It is a wonder to see how they were turned ; howe of utter enemyes, they 
becam his dere friends. He gave byshops a right good ensample howe 
they might win mens hartes. There was few holy dayes but he would ryde 
five or six mylesfrom hishowse, now to thys parishe churche, nowe to that, 
and there cause one or other of his doctors to make a sermon unto the 
people. He sat amonges them, and sayde masse before all the paryshe. 
He sawe why Churches were made. He began to restore them to their 
ryght and propre use. He broughte his dinner with hym, and bad dyyers 
of the parish to it. He enquired whether there was any debate or grudge 
between any of them ; yf there were, after dinner he sente for the parties 
to the Churche, and made them all one. Men say well that doe welL*' 

Wolsey^s subsequent catastrophe is sufficiently known. He died Nov. 
29^. 1530 ; not without the suspicion of his contemporaries that he had 
taken poison. 



LETTER CVII. 

Queen Catherine ofArragon to Tier daughter the Prin- 
cess Ma/ry, 

{ms. cotton, vesp. f. XIII. foL 72. OHg-.J * 



DOUGHTER 

I pray you thinke not that any forgetfulnes 
hathe caused me to kepe Charles so long here, and 
aunswerd not tP yoiir good Letter, in the whiche I 
perceyve ye wold knowe howe I doo. I am in that 
caas that the long absence of the King and you trou- 
blethe me. My helthe is metely good : and I trust in 
Grod, he that sent me the last dothe it to the best^ and 
woll shortly tome it to the fyrst to come to good ef- 
fecte. And in the meane tyrae I am veray glad to 

c 2 



20 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

here from You, specially when they shewe me that ye 
be well amended. I pray God to contynue it to hys 
pleasour. As for your writing in Lattine I am glad 
that ye shall chaunge frome me to Maister Federston, 
for that shall doo you moche good,- to leme by him 
to write right. But yet some t)anes I wold be glad 
when ye doo write to Maister Federston of your owne 
enditing when he hathe rede it that I may se it. For 
it shalbe a grete comfort to me to see You kepe your 
Latten and fayer writing and all. And soo I pray 
You to recommaunde me to my Lady of Salisbury. 
At Obome* this Fryday night. 

Your lovyng mother 

KATHERINE THE QWENE. 



LETTER CVIII. 

Thomas Fryshy to Thomas Cromwell. 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 353. Orig.'\ 

*^* The following Letter to Secretary Cromwell, from Thomas Frysby 
one of the canons of Laund abbey m Leicestershire, indicates at least that 
he was considered accessible to his old acquaintances after he had attained to 
power. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments of the Church, sa3rs much of 
Cromwell's recollection of those who had treated him kindly when in hum- 
ble condition ; more especially in the dSuse of a poor man who swept the 
Cells of Shene Priory, whose father had given him ^' many a meale*s 
meat ;*' and in that of Francis Frescobald by whose generous assistance 

• Wobum. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 21 

when upon the continent, Cromwell was enabled to' come to England. His 
treatment o{ Frescohald exceeded the generosity of common gratitude. 

The site of Laund Abbey was granted to Lcrd Cromwell in the thirty- 
first of Henry the Eighth. 



Right worshipfull my singuler good Mast^ my 
duety humbly premised with my prayer. Pleasith it 
your good Mastership of your goodnes to call to your 
remembraunce when ye laye here with us at Launde 
Abbey some tyme ye wolde take the pajrne to walke 
with me or my brethem abowt owr busjmes ; and as 
you and I cam on day from Withcoke I had a fall 
backeward in the Snowe in a place called the Dammes, 
bet wen Launde and Withcoke; and by the same tokyn 
I doo send you by this berar vj. Chesys of this contre 
makyng, praying you to accepte the same that the old 
acquentaunce somme thyng myght be renewed. You 
shall nott nede to gyve our M'. prior eny thanks for 
the same. Other newellies* have I not to doo your 
Mastership pleasur with all, but with my prayer which 
all wayes ye shalbe assuryd of to the pleasure of God, 
who all wayes have you in his blessid kepyng, to your 
harts ease and your worship daily encreasyng. At 
Laimd Abbey this xiiijl** daye of January 

By your beadisman 

THOMAS FRYSBY chanOU, 

To the right worshipfull 

M. Cromwell be this delyyered. 

» nowellUi news. 



^ ORIGINAL LKTTERS. 



LETTER CIX. 

Thomas Atideley Lord Keeper ^ to Secretary Cromwell 
on Kvn-g Henry the EighiKs retumjrom his Inter" 
view with the French King, a^ d. 153S. 

[ms. cottok. TITUS B. I. foL 346. Orig.'l 

*^* The ostensible design of the second Interview between Henry the 
Eighth and Fronds the First was to concert measures fbr a joint Expedi.^ 
tion against the Turk ; but the real intention was, by alanning the Pope 
and the Emperor, to accelerate the business of the Divorce. 

Francis entreated Hemry to bring the Lady Anne Bolejm with him, to 
which he consented ; and, accompanied by her, landed at Calais by ten 
o'clock in the forenoon of the lltl^. of October. '^ Henry,*' says Hall, 
*' was honourably received with procession, and brought to S^« Nicholas's 
church, where he heard mass, and so to his place called the Exchequer 
where he lodged." 

Calais, on this occasion, provided no fewer than twenty four hundred 
beds, with stabling for two thousand horses, ^ 

On the 20^^. of October, the two Kings met in a valley near Sandj^field, 
between Calais and Boulogne. '^ The Kings train," says HaU, ^' w&ved 
on the left hand, to give the French King and his train the right hand ; 
likewise did the French part, to give the Englishmen the right hand : so 
the two Kings, with all lovely hon^ met, with bare heads, and eadi env* 
brased other in such fashion, that all that beheld them rejoiced. jThe King 
of England was apparelled in a coat of great riches, in braids of gold laid 
loose on russet velvet, and set with trefoils, ftill of pearl and stonob The 
French King was in a coat of crimson velvet, all to cut, lined with slender 
doth of gold plucked out through the cuts. The noblem^ on both par- 
ties were richly apparelled ; and, as was reported, the French King said 
openly to the King of England, ' Sir, you be the same person that I am 
*• most bound to in the worid ; and sith it hath pleased you in person to visit 
' me, I am bound in person to seek you, and, for the very friendship that I 
^ have found in you I am yours and will be, and so I require you to take 
^ me ;' and with that put off his bonnet The King of England soberly 
answered, ' If ever I did thing to your liking I am glad, and as touching 
' the pain to come hither to see you, I assure you it is my great comfort, 
^ yea, and I had come farther to have visited you.' Then the Kings em- 
braced the lords and estates ; as the French King the lords of England, . 



ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 28 

and the King of England the lords of France ; and that done, they set for- 
ward toward Boulogne, and m riding th^y cast ofFHawks called Sakers to 
the Kites, which made to them great sport. And in a valley beyond San- 
dyfield the King of Navarre met the Kings, and there they a%hted and 
drank, and, after that, they mounted on horsback, and with hawking and 
other princely pastime they came neftr to Boulogne, where on a hill stood 
ranged, in a fair band, the numbet of five hundred men on horsback, of 
whom the chief were the French King's three sons, the dauphin, the duke 
of Orleans and the duke of Angoulesme, and on them gave attendance the 
admiral of France and thr^ cardinals with divers other nobles of France^ 
These three Princes mj^zched forward and welcomed the King of England, 
which them well behdd, and lovingly them received, iw he that could as 
much nurture as any Prince that ever was. Then the French King said 
to his children openly, ' My diildren, I km you): father, but to this Prince 
^ here you are as much bound as to me your natural &ther, for he redeemed 
' me and you &om captivity: wherefore on my blessing I charge you to 
' be to him loving always.' The ^ing of England ceased the French 
King's tale, and embraced the young Princes each after other." 

From the 20'^!^ to the 25th of October, Francis entertained Henry at 
Boulogne; from the 25^1^ to the 30^. Henry entertained Francis at Calais. 
Here, as has been before mentioned, they were joined by the young duke 
of Richmond. At one of the disguisings too, Anne Boleyn, who previous - 
to her leaving England had been created marchioness of Pembroke, danced 
with Francis. 

On the 30^. of October, Henry attended his royal guest to the place ^ 
where they had met on the 20^ ; they alighted on a green spot, and were 
served with wine, ippcras, firuit, and spices ; when, having communed a little, 
they again mounted on . their horses^. '^ and at the very entering of the 
French ground, they took hands, and with princely countenance, loving 
behaviour, and hearty words, each embrased other and so there departed." 

Storms and contrary winds detained Henry and his suite at Calais till 
the 13^. of November ; on which day, at midnight, he took ship, <^ and 
landed at Dover the morrow after, being the 14th day of November, at five 
o'clock in the morning."* Hall says, that on the Saturday following, the 
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Mayor of London, and the Coundl of 
R^;ency, attended the singing of Te Deum at S^. Paul's ; but Lord Aud- 
ley's Letter makes it on the Friday. 



After my most hertie commendacions it may lik 
you too vnderstond that other knowledge have we 

• CompaTe Hall, Edit. 1809. p. 7Bd-794. . Siowe, Annales, Ed. 1592. p. 944. 



24 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

none, but the fame is firme and constaunte here that 
the Kings Highnes (thanks be to our Lord) is arryved 
within this his owne realme, which is no Ktle joye and 
comfort to the Counsaile here, and not onlie to theym 
but to all the subjects of the realme. And for asmiche 
as we have byne enfourmed by sundry Lettres firom 
beyond the see, aswell by you as other, of the good and 
prosperous passages that the Kings Highnes hath had 
aswell in his going outward as in his retoum, and of 
the most joyous and amycable assemblie and meting 
of his Grace and the French Kinge, their nobles and 
trayne, in such wise as the lik hath not byn seen her- 
tofore, We therfore, the Counsaile here, think we can 
do no lesse but now uppon the Kyngs revenue* into 
his owne realme to gyve congratulacion and thanks to 
Almightie God for the same, for the which the Coun- 
saile here be determyned to morowe to assemble theym 
selffs at Polls wher the Maier of London with his 
brethem, of their own offre, entend likewise to bee ; 
wher it is devised that Te Deum shalbe song by the 
quier of PouUs, and we ren4er our prayers to All- 
mightie God for the good successes that the Kings 
Grace hath had, and for his prosperous and ioyous re- 
venue into his own realme; besechingyou to sett forth 
thes our good purposes and intents as it is by us ment, 
to th'^entent that it maye be accepted as we trust it will 
in good part. Asserteynyng you furder that many of 

• return. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 25 

the King^s Counsaile here wold have attended uppon 
the Kings Grace uppon his first revenue into the 
realme, but bycause they have byn conversant in the 
ayer here* they dare nott approche to his presence till 
his pleasure be furder knowen in that behalf. Other 
nues ther be none here worthie advertisement; but 
this day I have bjm enfourmed that if I had not de- 
vised a . . . . into Warwikshire for Spencers mattier, 
it wold have byn foimde agaynst the King, by beryng 
and mayntenaunce ; wherof ye shall knowe more up- 
pon our next meating which now I long for ; as know- 
eth almightye God who kepe you. Written at London 
the XV*? day of November. 

Yo"". assured to his litell po^ 

THOMAS AUDELEY CtCStOS StglUL 

" To his hartie beloved frincle 
M'. Crumwell." 



LETTER ex. 

Sir William Fitzwilliam Treasurer of the Hotisehold 

to Secretary Cromwell, 

[ms. cotton, otho. c. X. fol. 178 b. OHg,^ 

*«,* On the day before Good Friday, usvally called Shere or Maundy 

Thursday, it was a custom both in this and other countries for the King 

• stow, speaking of the Parliament after Easter this year says, '* there was a fif- 
teenth granted but not exacted at this season, because that suddealy began a pesti- 
lence in Westminster ; wherefore the parliament was prorogued." Annales, Edit. 
1692. p. 944. 



^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

and Queen, persons of high estate, and the abbats of religious Houses, to 
perform their Maundy ; that is to wash the feet of a certain number of 
poor people, frequently twelve^ in imitation of Our Saviour's washing the 
feet of his disdples. The Elings and Queens of England, indeed, increased 
the number, and usually washed the feet of as many persons either as they 
themselves were years old, or had reigned. They afterwards gave them 
meat, clothing, and a little bag of small money. 

Catherine of Arragon, having been declared Princess Dowager of 
Wales only,, in the parliament held at the beginning of 1533, appears 
to have seized upon the practice of this Ceremony as affording her a quiet 
opportunity of asserting her right as Queen, at least till her marriage had 
been dissolved by the Pope. The Letter announcing the King's refusal 
to let her perform the ceremony in any other character than that of Prin- 
cess Dowager is now before the reader. 

King James the Second was the last of our Kings who washed the feet 
of the poor people in person. The author of '' Le Ghiide de Londres 
pour les E'trangers," 8" Lond. 1693. informs us that King William the 
Third was the first of our Sovereigns who deputed the performance of this 
ceremony to his Almoner. 

From the Earl of Northumberland's Household Book, begun in 1512, 
we find that he kept his Maundy, if at home, for as many poor men as he 
was years of age. Wolsey also, in 1530, performed the same ceremony at 
the Abbey of Peterborough while on Ms Journey to the North. '' Upon 
Palme Sunday," says Cavendish, '^ he bare his palme and went in pro- 
cession, with the monks, setting forth the divine service right honorably 
with such singing men as he then had there of his own. And upon Maundy- 
Thursday he made his Maundy there, in our Lady's chapel, having^if^- 
nine poor men, whose feet he washed and kissed ; and after he had wiped 
them, he gave every of the said poor men twelve pence in money, three 
ells of good canvass to make them shirts, a pair of new shoes, a cast of red 
herrings, and three white herrings ; and one of these had two shillings." * 

It may not be quite unconnected with this subject to state, that the 
Maundy is likewise used at the present day in the Greek Church. D\ £. 
D. Clarke in his Travels in Russia, 4to. Cambr. 1810. vol. i. p. 55. says, 
^^ the second grand ceremony of this Season takes place on Thursday 
before Easter, at noon, when the archbishop of Moscow washes the feet 
of the Apostles. This we also witnessed. The priests appeared in their 
most gorgeous apparel. Twelve monks, designed to represent the twelve 
Apostles, were placed in a semicircle before the archbishop. The ceremony 
is performed in the Cathedral, which is crowded with spectators. The arch- 
bii^op, performing all, and much more than is related of our Saviour in the 

> Cavend. Life of WoIscy, Wordsworth's Edit. p. 485. . 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 27 

thirteenth chapter of S^ John, tiikes off his robes, girds up his loins with 
a towel, and proceeds to wash the feet of them all, until he comes to the 
representative of S^ Peter, who rises ; and the same interlocution takes 
place as between our Saviour and that i^postle.'*' 



Maister Secretarie after moost herty recommen- 
dacions, this shall be to advertise you that the Kings 
Highnes hath had consultation with my Lord of Nor- 
ffolk and with me, upon the contents of the Lettre here- 
in inclosed. And forasmoch as it appereth by the said 
Lettre that the Lady Princesse Dowager intendeth to 
kepe a Maundy, alledging for her self that my Lady 
the Kings Grauntdame during her lif kept a yerely 
Maundy, and that divers^ and many Houses of Rely- 
Aaa within this Reame dobth yerely the same, she 
tfi^keth her selff as far bounde, and maye as well kepe 
a Maundy as they. His Highnes pl^assor is that ye doo 
advertise her Officers, whose names bee subscribed in 
the same Lettre, that in caas she wilbe contented to 
kepe her Maundy in her Chamber, secretely, or openly, 
in the name of Princesse Dowager, in like maner as 
my Lady the Kings graunt-dame did in the name of 
the Countesse of Richemount and Derby, his High- 
nes is right wel contented that she shall kepe her said 
Maundy as honorably and Uberally as any Lady hath 
within this Reame, the Queues Grace excepted ; and 
if she will refuce so to doo, but alledge that she woU 
kepe her said Maundy in the name of Queue, that then 
they shall shewe unto her that yf she shulde attempte 



28 OlllGlNAL LETTERS. 

soo to doo, that not oonly she but also . . .* and all 
suche pore people as shulde recejrve her said Maundy 
shuld encurre to farre in daungier of ... . Lawes, 
and of High Treason, which they cannot ner in any 
wise maye suffer : and that they see she shall have no 
Maundy otherwise then in the name of Princesse dow- 
ager. And thus the blessed Trinitie have you in his 
blessed preservacion. At Richemount this .... day 
at night 

Yo'hon^ . 



" The xviiit**. day of December this year," says Hall, '* the duke of 
Suffolk was sent by the King and his Council to Bugden beside Hunting- 
don, where the Lady Catherine Princess Dowager lay. For the King was 
advertised, and had good proofs of the same, that she of froward mind 
would consent, neither to the determination of the Universities, nor yet to 
the sentence of the whole convocation of the Realme, but being counselled 
by a few Spaniards which had little learning, did all that she could to in- 
fringe the determination of the said Universities and Clergy. Insomuch 
that she wrote to the Pope and other potentates to grieve the King and his 
reahne, because he would not follow her mind and break the command- 
ment of God. Wherefore the Eang^s Council motioned the King that such 
as were about her and moved her thereto, should be put from her, for thei 
thought it no reason that she should have such liberty to work that thing by 
the which the King and his realm might have detriment or damage. Where- 
fore the said Duke was sent to her, which shewed to her openly Articles oi 
her suits to the Pope, and how she sought means to grieve the Bang and 
his realm, which hereafter she should not be suffered, to da For the same 
time was a curse sent from the Pope which accursed both the King and the 
whole realme, which curse the bearer thereof, being not by like the hardiest 
man that ever shewed himself in front of battle, thought it a great deal more 
better for him to bestow it without the King's reach than to adventure to 
come within his dominions, and therefore set it up in the town of Dunkirk 
in Flanders, where it was taken down by William Locke mercer of London. 
The Queen answered the Duke very highly and obstinately, with many 

■ /. they. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29 

l^gh woids, and suddenly in a fury she departed from him into her Privy 
Chamher, and shut the door. He, seing that, brake all the order of the 
Qneen*s cOurt, and discharged a great sort of her household servants, and 
yet left there a convenient number to serve her like a Princess. Thare was 
great lamentation among them that departed, but there was no remedy. 
Thei\ they that remained to serve her were sworn to serve her as a Prin. 
oess Dowager, and not as Queen. Some said they were sworn to her as 
Queen, and otherwise they would not serve, and so they departed. Other 
that were swome to serve her as Princess, and remained there, she them 
utterly refused for her servants: wherefore she remained with the less 
number of servants.** ^ 



LETTER CXI. 

The Princess Mary to Secretary CroniweU. 

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 18. Orig,] 



MARYS PRINCESSE. 

Maister Cromewell I commende me to you, and 
hertely thanke you for your kyndenes and favor lately 
shewed at my desyre unto my servante Richard Wil- 
bram in the bihalfe of his father. I nowe eftsones 
desire and hertely praye you to shewe your laufull 
favor and gdodnes unto Sir Rice Mauncell this beirer, 
in suche matters and buysenes as he is a suter unto 
you ; for the said Sir Rice hathe maried oon of my 
gentilwomen, whome, for her long and acceptable 
service to me done, I myche esteme and favor. Wher- 
fore if ye wolde^ at this my des3a'e, extende your goodnes 

• Hall, Chion. ut supr. pp. 8O7, 808. 



30 OBIGINAL LETTERS. 

and favor unto him in that bihalfc, so that he myght 
perceive his said suit thVather therby to take good 
effecte, ye theryn shulde mjmestre unto me veraye 
acceptable pleasor, whiche I shall herafter remembre 
accordingly. From Otforde the xxvij'^ daye of June. 



LETTER CXII. 



Kififf Henry the Eighth to the Lord Steward and other 
Officers of the Househdd^ appomtmg the Dietjhr 
the Lady iMcy, a. d. 1533. 

TfROM the OMGINA L IH the chapter house at WSSTMIK8TEB.] 

*^* The particular post which the Lady Lucy held at Court has not 
t)ccurred to the editor of the present Volumes. She was probably one of 
the Ladies of the bed-chamber. The allowance of diet, from its quantity, 
must have included provision for her ordinary servants. 



Heney R. By the King. 

We wol and commaunde you to alleue* dailly 
from hensforth, unto our right dere and welbilovede 
the Lady Lucye, into hir Chambre, the dyat and fare 
herafter ensu3mg. Furst, every momyng at Brekefast 
oon Chyne of Beyf at our Kechyn ; oon chete loff and 
oon maunchet at our Pantry barr ; and a galon of Ale 
at our Buttrye barr. Item, at Djmer a pese of Beyfe, 
a stroke of Roste, and a Rewarde at our said kech}^ ; 

■ allow. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 31 

a cast of chete Bred at our Panatrye bar ; and a Ga- 
lone of Ale at our Buttrye barr. Item, at after none, 
a manchet at our Panatrye Barr ; and half a Galon of 
Ale at our Buttrye Barr. Item, at Supper, a Messe of 
Porage, a pese of Mutton, and a Rewarde at our said 
kechyn ; a caste of Chete brede at our Panatrye ; and 
a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye. Item, at after Supper, 
a Chete lofF and a Maunchet at our Panatrye barr ; a 
Gallon of Ale at our Buttrye barr ; and half a Galon 
of Wyne at our Seller Barr. Item, every momyng 
at our Woodeyarde, foure tall shyds and twoo fagotts. 
Item at our Chaundrye barr, in Wynter, every night 
oon preket and foure syses of Waxe, with eight Can- 
dells white lights, and oon Torche. Item, at our 
Picher house wokely* six white cuppes. Item, at 
every tyme of our remoeving, oon hoole Carte for the 
cariage of hir stuff. And these our Lettres shalbe your 
sufficient warrant ' and discharge in this behalf at alt 
tymes hereafter. Yeven under our Signet at our ma- 
nour of Esthampstede the xvjV* day of July the xiiij. 
yere of our Reigne. 

To the Lord Steward of our Houshold, 
the Treasourer^ Comptroller^ Cofferer, Clerks 
of our Grene Clothe, Clerks of our Kechyn, 
and to all other our bed Officers of our 
said Houshold, and to every of theym. 

• weekly. 



32 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CXIII. 

Letter of Summons to the Lady CobJuzm to attend the 
Coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn, 

[MS. HARL. 283. fol. 96. Orig,} 



Heney R. By the King. 

Right dere and welbeloved we grete you well. 
And forasmoche as we be detennjmed upon the fest of 
Pentecost next commyng to kepe and do to be cele- 
brate at Westmjmster, with all due circumstances of 
honor, the Coronacion of our derest wif the Lady 
Anne our Quene, as to her astate and dignitie dothe 
appertain ; and have appointed you amongs other, at 
the same tyme, to geve your attendance on horsebak 
in suche place as to your degree apperteineth ; We 
therfore desire and pray you to put yourself in suche 
aredines as ye may be personally at our inanor of 
Grenewich the Fryday next bifore the said feest, then 
and ther to give your attendance upon our said Quene 
* from thens to our Towre of London the same day, and 
on the next day to ryde from the same our Toure, 
thorugh our Cite of Lcfndon, unto our manor of West- 
mynster, and the next day, Witsonday, to go imto our 
Monastery ther to the said Coronacion, providing for 
yourself and your women some faire white, or white 
gray palfreies, or geldings, suche as ye shall thinke 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S3 

most fytt to serve for that purpose. And as concemyng 
the apparell of your own palfrey, ye shalbe furnished 
therof by the Master of the Horsses with our said 
derest wif the Quene at any your repaire or sending 
hider for the same in every behalf, saving for your 
bitt and your bosses/ Trusting that for the lyveraies 
and ordering of your said women aswell in thair appa- 
rell as in their horsses ye woll in suche wise provide 
for them as unto your honor and that Solempnite ap- 
perteineth : and your own Robes and Lyveraies shalbe 
delyverpd at any tyme, when ye shal come or sende for 
the same by the Keper of our Great Wardrobe : not 
failling hereof as ye entende to do us pleasour. Yeven 
under Signet iat our manor of Grenewich the xxviij'.^ 

day orAprill. 

To our right dere and welbeloved 
the Lady Cobham. 



LETTER CXIV. 



ThmutsCranmerarcKbishopqfCcmterbury^ to M*". Haw- 
Tcyns the. Ambassador at the Emperor's Court ; upon 
the divoixe of Queen Catherine^ and the Coronation 
of Queen Anne Boleyn. a. d. 1533. 

~ [mS. HARL. BRIT. MUS. 6146.] 

*^* The following Letter from Granmer to theEngli^ ailibassador at 
the Emperor's- court, is taken from the archbishop's rough topy-book of 
his own Letters. 

The passage in it which concerns the secret marriage of Henry and 
Anne Bolejm is, perhaps, the most important of the whole; as tending to 

VOL. TI. D 



84 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Avow light upon the leal tune of a transaction on which our historians 
have differed. 

Hall and Holinshed both name St. Erkenwald*s day for the marri- 
age, November the fourteenth ; the very day an which Henry and Anne 
arrived at Dover from the Interview with Francis*. But this was a time 
ill-adapted to concealment ; and was probably fixed upon at a later mo- 
ment, only that the world might believe that the fruit of the mazriage was 
conceived in wedlock \ 

Stow fixes the twenty.fifth of January following, that is St. Paul's day, 
for the time ; and says the ceremony was performed by D^ Rowland Lee, 
afterwards bishop of Chester*^. Cranmer merely says it was much about 
St. Paul's day. 

At all events the marriage was celebrated ^firr** ^YfiP (7Ta"wi«r*a di. 
vorce had been pronounced. Lord Herbert asserts, with what truth the 
present Letter will dechffe, that Cranmer himself was at the nuurriage*^. 

Whether the following Account of this transaction came from the fic- 
tions of Sanders, or from the manuscript History of the Divorce pre- 
sented to Queen Mary thirty years before the work of Sanders was pub^ 
lished, matters not : it is to be regretted that, uncorroborated, it should 
have found its way into a work, in many points of view so valuable as 
Lingaid's History of England. 

" On the 25'*^. of January at an early hour, D'. Rowland Lee, one of 
the royal chaplains, received an order to celebrate mass in a oareet at 
the western end of the palace at WhitehalL Thore he found the King at- 
tended by Norris and Heneage, two of the grooms of chamber, and Anne 
Boleyn accompanied by her train-bearer Anne Savage, afterwards lady . 
Berkeley. We are told that Lee, when he discovered the objectjbr which he 
had been called, made some opposition : but Henry calmed his scruples with 
the assurance that Clement had pronounced in his favour, and that the 
Papal instrument was safely deposited in his closet. As soon as the mar- 
riage ceremony had been performed, die parties separated in silence before 
it was Hghf^^. . 



In my most hartie wise-I-commende me unto you 
and even so woiilde be^ right gladd to here of your 
welfare, &c. Thes be to advertise you that inasmoche 

• Hall, Chron. edit. 1809. p. 794. Holinsh. edit. 1808. vol. iii. p. 777. 
k Queen Elisabeth was bom oa September the 7^. 1533. 

• Stow, Ann. edit 1631. p. 562. 

A Herb. Lifeof Hen. VIII. edit. 1649. p. 341. Burnet in his History of the Reform- 
ation has likewise fallen into this error. 

• Lingard's Hist. Engl. 1«». edit vol. iv. p. 190. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. SS 

as you nowe' and than take some paynes in writyng 
vntome, I woulde be lothe you shuld thynkeyour La- 
bour utterly lost ftnd forgotten £br lake of wrytyng 
agayne ; therefore and bycause I reken you be some- 
dele desirous of suehe newis as hathe byn here with 
us of late in the Kyngis Graces matters, I enttnd to 
enforme you a parte therc^ accord3mg to the tenure 
and purporte vsyd in that bdialf« 

Ande fyrste as towch3mg the small determynacion 
and concludjrng of the matter of devcHrse b^twene my 
Lady Kateren and the Kyngs Grace, whiche saidmat- 
ter after the Convocacion in that behalf hadde deter^ 
myned and aggreed accordyng to the former consent 
of the Vniversites^ yt was thowght convenient by flie 
Kjoig and his lemyd Councell that I shuld repayre- 
unto Dunstable, which ys within iiij. myles vnto Amp- • 
tell, wh^re the said Lady Kateren kepeth her howse, 
and there to call her be£3re me, to here the fynall 
Sentance in this said mateir. Notwithstandjoig she 
would not att all obey therunto, for whan sHe was by 
doctour-Lee cited to appear by a daye, she utterly re- 
fiised the same, sayinge tliat inasmoohe as her cause 
was before the Pope she would have none other 
judge; and therfore woulde not take me for her 
judge. Nevertheless the viij*** daye of Maye, accord*^ 
yng to the said appoyntment, I came vnto Dunstable, 
my Lorde of L)rricoln beyng assistante vnto me, and 
my Lorde of Wyncehester, Doctour Bell, Doctour 

D 2 



86 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 

Claybroke, Doctour Trygonnel, Doctour Hewis, 
Doctour Olyver, Doctour Brytten, Mr. Bedell, with 
diuerse other lemyd in the Lawe beyng councellours 
in the Lawe for the Kings's parte : and soo there at 
our commyng kepte a Courte for the apperance of 
the s»id Lady Kateren, where were examyned cer- 
te)m witnes whiche testified that she was lawfully cited 
and called to appere, whome for fawte of apperance 
was declared contumax ; procedyng in the said cause 
agaynste her in pcenam contumaciam as the processe of 
the Lawe thereunto belongeth ; whiche contynewed 
XV. dayes after our cummyng thither. And the mo- 
row after Assension daye I gave finall Sentance ther- 
in, howe that it was indispensable for the Pope to ly- 
cense any suche marieges. 

This donne, and after our reiomyng» home agayne, 
the Kings Highnes prepared al thyngs convenient for 
the Coronacion of the Queene, whiche also was after 
suche a maner as foloweth. 

The Thursday e nexte before the feaste of Pente- 
cost, the Kyng and the Queene beyng at Grenewyche, 
all the Craftes of London thereunto well appoynted, 
in severall bargis deckyd after the most gorgiouse and 
sumptuous maner, with dyverse pagiantes thereunto 
belongjoig, repayred and wayted all together upon the 
Mayre of London ; and so, well fumysshed, cam all 
vnto Grenewiche, where they taryed and wayted for 

• re-journying. 



6eiginal lettees. 87 

the Queenes commyng to her barge : which so done, 
they brought her unto the Tower, tromppets, sham^ 
bes% tod other dyverse instrumentes all the wayes 
playng and makyng greate melodie, which, as ys re- 
ported, was as combly donne as neuer was lyke in any 
tyme nyghe to our rememberaunce. And so her - 
Grace cam to the Tower on Thursdaye at nyghte, 
abowte v. of the clocke, where also was suche a pele 
of gonnes ^ hathe not byn harde lyke a great while 
before. And the same nyghte, and Frydaye aldaye^, 
the Kyng and Queene taryed there ; and on Frydaye 
at nyght the Kyngs Grace made xviij knyghts of the 
Bathe, whose creacion was not alonly so strange to 
here of, as also their garmentes stranger to beholde or 
loke on ; whiche said Enightes, the nexte daye, whiche 
was Saturday, rydde before the Queene^s grace tho- 
rowte the Citie of London towards Westminster pa- 
lice, over and besyds the moste parte of the nobles 
'of the Realme, whiche lyke accompanied her grace 
thorowe owte the said citie; she syttyng in her heere, \ 
upon a Horse Lytter, rychely appareled, and iiij \ 
knyghtes of the v. ports beryng a Canapye over her ! 
hedd. And after her cam iiij. riche charettes, otie of 
them emptie, and iij. other fumysshed with diuerse 
auncient old lades ; and after them cam a great trayne 
of other Ladies and gyntillwomen : whyche said. Pro- 
gresse, from the begynnyng to thendyng, extendid 

» shaumg. > all day. 



/ 



38 ORIGINAL X.£TT£BS. 

half a myle in leyngthe by estimacion or thereaboute. 
To whome also, as she came alongeste the Citie, 
was shewid many costely pagiants, with diverse other 
encomyes spokai of chyldren to her ; wyne also runyng 
at certeyne Cqndits plentiovtsly. And so {Hrocedyng 
ihorowte the streats, passid furthe vnto Westminster 
Hall, where was a certeyn banket prepared (or her, 
which doime, she was ccmveyd owte of the bake syde 
of the palice into a Barge and so vnto Yorke Place, 
where the Kyng's grace was before her ccmyag, for 
this yt)u muste ever presuppose that his Grace came 
allwayes before her secretlye in a Barge aswell firome 
Graiewyche to the Tower as from the Tower to Yorke 
place. 

Nowe than on Soundaye was the Coronadon, which 
aUso was of such a maner. 

In tiie mcMmyiige ther, assembled withe me at West- 
minster Churche the byishop of Yorke, the Bishop of 
Lcmdcnn, the Bishop of Wynchester, the Kshop of 
Lyneoln, the Bishop of Bathe, and the Bishop of 
Saint Asse, the Abbote of Westminstre with x or x^ 
moo Abbottes, whiche all revestred ourselfs in our 
pontificalibus, imd, soo fiimysshed, withe our Crosses 
and Crossiers, procedid oute of th^ Abbey in a pro- 
cession unto Westminstre Hall, where we recurred 
the Queene apareled in a Robe of purple velvet, and 
all the ladyes and gentillwomen in robes and gownes 
of scarlet accordyng to the maner vsed before tyme 



OklGIKAL LKTTERS. 99 

in such besynes : and so her Grace sustayned of eche 
syde with ij^ bysshops, the Bysshope of London ande 
the Bysshop of Wynchester, cam^ furthe in proces- 
syon unto the Churche of Westminster, she in her 
here, my Lord of Suffplke berying before herr the 
Crowne, and ij^ other Lords beryng also before her 
a Ceptur and a white Rodde, and so entred up into 
the highe Alter, where diverse Ceremoneys used 
aboute her, I did sett the Crowne on her hedde, and 
then was songe Te Deum^ Sc. And after that was 
8(mg a solempne Masse, all which while her grace 
satt crown^ed upcm a scaffold whiche was made be« 
twaie the Highe Alter and the Qwyer in Westminstre 
Churche; which Masse and ceremonyes donne and 
fynysshed, all the Assemble of noble men broughte 
her into Westminstre Hall agayne, where was kepte 
a great solempne feaste all that daye ; the good ordre 
therof were to longe to wrytte at this tyme to you. 
But nowe Sir you may nott ymagyn that this Coro- 
nacicm was before her mariege, for she was maried 
muche about sainte Paules daye last, as the condi- 
don therof dothe well appere by reason she ys nowe 
somwhat bygg with chylde. Notwithstandymg yt 
hath byn reported thorowte a greate parte of the realme 
that I maried her; whiche was playnly false, for I 
myself kiifewe not th^of a fortenyght after yt was 
donne. And many other thyngs be also r^xjrted of 
me, whiche be mere lyes and tales. 



40 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Other newys have we none notable, but that one 
Fryth, whiche was in the Tower in pryson, was ap- 
poynted by the Kyugs grace to be examyhed befor 
me, my Lorde of London, my lorde of Wynchestre, 
my Lorde of SuflFolke, my Lorde Channcelour, and 
my Lorde of Wylteshere, whose opynion was so no- 
iably erroniouse, that we culde not dyspache hjon but 
was fayne to leve hjrm to the determynacion of his 
Ordinarye, whiche ys the bishop of London. His 
said opynyon ys of suche nature that he thoughte it 
nat necessary to be beleved as an Article of our fajrthe, 
that ther ys the very corporall jM^esence of Christe 
within the Oste and Sacramente of the Alter, and 
holdethe of this po3mte muste afEer the Opjmion of 
Oecolampadious. And suerly I myself sent for hjrm 
iij or iiij tymes to perswade hym to leve that his Ima- 
ginacion, but for all that we could do therin he woulde 
not applye to any counsaile, notwithstandyng nowe 
he ys at a fynall ende with all examinacions, for my 
Lorde of London hathe gyven sentance and delyiierd 
hym to the secular power, where he loketh every daye 
to goo unto the fyer. And ther ys also condempned 
Avith hym one Andrewe a taylour of London for the 

said self same opynion. 

######## 

And thus farr you well, from my manor of Croydon 
the xvij. daye of June. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 41 



LETTER CXV. 

Edward Earl of Derby ami Sir Henry FaryngUm to 

King Henry the Eighth. 

[from the original preserved in the chapter house 

at westminster.] 

*«* The clamour as well among the clecgy as among the laity, upon 
the second marriage of King Henry the Eighth, was great 

Stow says, *•*• the first that openly resisted or reprehended the King 
touching his marriage with Anne Boleyn, was one friar Peto, a simple man 
yet very devout, of the Order of Observants." He preached before the 
King at Greenwich, upon the latter part of the Story of Ahab, " saying 
' Even where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, even there shall the dogs 
* lick thy blood also O King ;♦ and therewithal spoke of the lying prophets 
which abused the King. I am, quoth he, that Micheas whom thou will 
hate, because I must tell thee truly that tihis marriage is unlawful ; and I 
know I shall eat the bread of affliction, and drink the water of sorrow, yet 
because our Lord hath put it intomy mouth, I must speak of it." The King 
bemg thus reproved, endured it patiently, says Stow, ''but the next Sun- 
day being the eighth of May, Dr. Curwen preached in the same place, who 
most sharply reprehended Peto and his preaching, and called, him dog, 
slanderer, base beggarly friar, dose man, rebel, and traitor ; saying that no 
subject should speak so audaciously to Princes ; and having spoke much 
to that effect, and in commendation of the King*s marriage, thereby to 
establish his seed in his seat for ever, he supposing to have utterly supprest 
Peto, and his partakers, lifted up his voice and said, ' I speak to thee Peto 
' which makest thyself Micheas, that thou mayest spef& evil of Kings, but 
' now thou art not to be found, being fled for fear and shame, as being un'. 
' able to answer my arguments.' And whilst he thus spake, there was one 
Elstow, a fellow friar to Peto, standing in the rood-loft, who with a bold 
voice said to Br. Curwen, ' Good Sir, you know that father Peto, as he was 
commanded, is now gone to a Provincial Council holden at Canterbury, and 
not fled for fe%^ of you, for tomorrow he will return again ; in the mean time 
I am here, as another Micheas, and will lay down my life to prove all those 
things true which he hath taught out of the Holy Scripture : and to this com- 
bat I challenge thee before God and all equal judges ; even unto thee Cur- 
wen I say ; which art one of the four hundred Prophets into whom the 
spirit of lyeing is entred, and seekest by adultery to establish succession, be- 
traying the King unto endless perdition, more for thy own vain glory and 
hope of promotion, than for discharge of thy clogged conscience, and the 



4S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

King*8 salvation.' This Elstow waxed hot, and spake very earnestly, so 
as they could not make him cease his speedi, until the Kino himself bad 
him hold his peace, and gave order that he and Peto should be convented be- 
five the Council, which was done the next^day; and when the Lords had re- 
buked them, then the earl of Essex told them that they had deserved to be 
put into a sack and cast into the Thames ; whereunto Elstow smiling, said, 
^ Threaten these things to rich and dainty folke, which are clothed in puipls^ 
fare deliciously, and have their chiefest hope in this world; for we esteem 
them not, but are joyful that for the discharge of oar duties we are driven 
hence : and, with thanks toGkkl, we know the way to Heaven to be as ready 
by water as by land, and therefore we care not which way we go.*'* 

The Letter now before the reader will show the coarse manner in whidi 
the marriage of Anne Bole3rn was received in a remoter quarter of the 
Kingdom. 



Pleas it your Highnes to be advertysed, that wher 
as Sir William Fitzwilliam knyght, on of your Courf- 
Bailors and Tresorer of your moost honorable Howse, 
lately directed his severall Lettres unto us your humble 
subgetts and' servants Edward Erie of Derby and 
Henry Faryngton Knyght, whereby we perceyve your 
graces pleasor is that a lewde and noghty pf eist in- 
habytyng in thise partyes, who hathe of late repcrted 
and spoken befor and in the audyence ci certeyn per- 
sons sundry and diverse unfyttyng and sklaunderous 
words, aswell by your Highnes as by the Quenes 
grace, shuld not only be attached and sent up to your 
Highnes, but also that we shuld in the accomplishes 
ment of your said pleasor take th^examynacions and 
saings of suche persons as were present and herd the 
^me unfittyng and sklaunderous reports and sayiigs 
.of the said preist in the premisses ; and the same to 

> Stow, Annals, edit. 1631. p. 669. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 4S 

send in nrrytyng to your Highnes subscribed with our 
hands ; We according to our bomiden duties in the 
accomplishement of your graces pleasor, have called 
befor us sucbe persons whose names and deposicions 
herafter do ensue ; and the same persons did examjrn 
upon thcr othes at Ley in the Goimtie of Lancaster, 
the x^ day of August in the xxv*? yere of the reign of 
your Dobk Highnes, Sir Richard Hoghtoo, Sir Willm 
Ley lond knyghts> and Thomas Howcroft your servants 
and other of the Counsaill of me the said Erie beyng 
present with us. And the said S^ Henry hath attadied 
the said preist and send hym to your Highnes. 

And S^ Richard Gierke vyker of Leegh deposith 
and saith that the xx day of July last past he rede & 
prodamadon aX Crofton^ in the Howse of John Blacke- 
st(»i%, OHicemyng Lady Eatharin Princesse-dowager, 
whiche S"" Jamys Harrison preist hering the said pro- 
damajcion, said that Queue Katharyn was Queue, And 
that Nan Bullen shuld not be Queue, nor the King to 
be no King but on his bering. 

Also S'. John Haworthe preist examyned, saith upon 
his othe that he herd the said S^ Jamys saye that 
Queue Kathar)m shuld be Queue, and as for Nan 
Bullen who the devell made her Queue ; and as for the 
King shuld not be King but on his bering. 

Also William Dalton squyer examyned, and sworn 
upon a boke, deposith and saith that after that on 
S'. Richard Gierke had redde the said proclamacion, 



44 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

he redde certeyn articles in the said proclamacion to 

the said S^ Jamys with certeyn persons ther being 

V present ; the said Sir Jamys said I will take non for 

/ Quene but Quene Eatharin ; who the devell made Nan 

\ Bullen that hoore Quene, for I will never take hir for 

\ Quene, and the King on his bering : and then the said 

William said hold thy peace thou wots not what thou 

sais, and, but that thou art a preist, I shuld punyshe 

the that other should take ensample. 

John Dalton th'^elder, gentilman, sworn and exa- 

I myned, saith, that he was present when William Dal- 

I ton squyer redde the said proclamacion, and the said 

j Sir Jamys said I will call hir Quene Eatharyn lettyng 

j for noman, for Nan Bulleyn that noghty pake" or 

hoore, I do not remember whether, who the devell 

made hir Quene ; and the King shalbe no King but 

on his bering. > 

Thomas Lathom the yonger, sworn and examyned, 
deposith and saith that, after that, a nother tyme, the 
same day and yere above said that S^ Jamys Harrison 
said that Nan Bullen that hoore shall not be Quene. 

Jamys Woddes, sworn and examyned, deposith and 
saithe that he herd the proclamacion redde in the 
Howse of John Blackston'^s and the said S'. Jamys 
said then that he wold not take non for the Quene but 
Quene Eatharin ; and as for Nan Bulleyn that hoore 
shalbe no Quene. 

• paikiej a female street walker, a trull, j amibson. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 45 

Adam Banaster, sworn and examyned, deposith and 
saith that S'. Jamys Harrison the xxiiij Day of July 
in the howse of Thomas Grauesyns said that he wold 
never take Nan BuUeyn for Quene, to be hanged for 
the same, but for Nan Bulleyn. 

Richard Sumner and John Clayton, sworn and ex- 
amyned, deposen and say that they came in cumpenny 
with the said Si Jamys Harrison from the town of 
Perbalt to Eccleston, where the said Sir Jamys said 
unto theym this is a mervelous world, the King will 
put down the order of Preists and distroye the Sacra- 
ment, but that will be as Thomas Dykonson said, that 
it cannot reign longe, for he saithe that Yorke wilbe 
London hastelye. 

by Your humblyst and obedyent servants 

E. DERBY. 
HENR. FARYNGTEN kT 



LETTER CXVI. 



Queen Anne Boleyn to Thomas CromwelL , 

[ms. cotton, cleop. e. v. foL 330 b. OHg.^ 

*^* From the following Letter, if from no other source, it may be 
gathered that Anne Bole3m favoured the dissemination of the Scriptures in 
the vulgar tongue. Her own copy of T3mdal's translation of '* The Newe 
Testament, imprinted at Antwerp by Marten Bmperowr, Anno m. d. 
xxxiiij." is still extant among the Books bequeathed, in 1799, to the Bri. 
tish Museum, by the rev. Clayton Mordaunt Cracherode. It is upon 
vellum, illuminated. Upon the gilding of the leaves, in a red letter, are the 
words Akka Reotna AxoLiiE. 



46 ORIGINAL LETTEKS 



Anne the Quenb. By the Queiie. 

Teustib and right welbiloued we grete you 
well. And where as we be crediblie enformed that the 
berer hereof Richard Herman marchaunte and dtizeit 
of Antwerpe in Brabant was in the tyme of the late 
k^rde Cardynall put and expelled frcx^e his firedome 
and felowdhipe of and in the Englishe house there, for 
nothing ells (as he ajSermethe) but ocmly for that that 
he^ dyd bothe with his gooddis and poUicie, to bis 
greate hurte and hynderans in this Worlde, helpe to 
the settjmg forthe of the Newe Testamente in £ng- 
lisshe. We therefore desire and instantly praye you 
that with all spede and favoure convenient ye woll 
cause this good and honeste marchaunt, being my 
Lordis true faithfull and loving subjecte, restored to 
his pristine frejdome, libertie, and felowshipe aforesaid, 
and the soner at this oure requeste, and at your good 
leyser to here hym in suche thinges as he hathe to 
make further reladon unto you in this behalf. Yeven 
undir our Signete at my Lordis manoure of Grene- 
wiche the xiiij^^ daye of May. 

To our trustie and right welbeloved 
Thomas Crumwell squyer Chief Secretary 
unto my Lorde the Kings Highnes. 

• The words ^ still like a good crysten man" are here obliterated \ the pen havlaff 
been drawn across them. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 47 



LETTER CXVII. 

Sir Thomas More to King Henry the Eighth; a Letter 

ofsuhmissixm cmd excuse* 

[fkoh the chapter house at westmiksteb..] 

*^* This Letter, which is one of the best specimens of Sir Thomas 
More's style, has been published before, but with a different spelling, with 
one or two small yariations, and with the omission of the last sentence. 
Under these circumstances, the original having occurred in a Collection 
of detached Papers in the Chapter House at Westminster, it has been 
thought that the republication of it in the present Volume would not be 
unacceptable. 

There are one or two passages in this Letter from which it may be ga- 
thered that King Henry the Eighth had condescended to use great fami- 
liarity with Sir Thomas More. Erasmus has said much upon this subject 
In his Letters. Of Sir Thomas More*s embassies abroad, he says, '' Se. 
miel atque iterum eztzusus est in legationem, in qua cum se cordatissime 
gessisset, non conquieyit serenissimus Rex Henricus, ejus'nominis octayuSy 
donee hominem in aulam suam pertraheret. Cur enim non dicam pertra- 
hevet ? Nullus unquam vehementius ambiit in aulam admitti, quamhic stu» 
duit effugere. Verum, cum esset optimo Regi in animo, familiam suam 
emditis, graribus, cordatis, et integris viris differtam reddere, cum alios 
permultos, tum MORUM in primis accivit, quem sic ix ixtimis 

HABET, UT A SE KUNQUAM PATIATUR DISCEDERE. SiVE SERIIS 
UTENDUM EST, KIHIL ILLO CONSULTIUS, SIVE VISUM EST ReOI 
FABULI8 AH(ENI0RIBUS LAXARE AKIMUM, KULLUS (^OMES FESTI- 

VIOR. Saepe res ardus judicem gravem et cordatum postulant, has sic 
Mioras discutit, ut utraque pars habeat gratiam. Nee tamen ab eo quiS' 
^qoam impetravit, ut munus a quoquam acciperet. Felices res publicas,. 
si Mori similes magistratus ubique prseficeret Princeps." > 

Another drcnmstonce connected with the subject of this Letter, alsa 
occurs in Erasmus's Epistles: and does not seem to have been known to 
our historians. It is that upon Wolsey*s fall, Henry pressed Cranmer to 
take the Chanoelkvship more than once, lefore he offered it to Sir Thomas 
M ORE . The whole passage which contains this fact' is curious : for it also 
contains* abuse of Wolsey whom Erasmus had so often and so courtingly 
pndbed. It is as fiiUows: 

> Detid. Enumi Epist. cccxlvii. Edit. Lugd. Bat. ito6. torn. i. col. 476. 



48 ORIGIXAL LETTEBS. 

"* Cudixudis Eboncensu sic offe&dit animum regium, ut spoliatus bonis 
et omni dignitmte. tueatur, nan in cucere, sed in quodam ipsius pnedio, 
adhibids triginta dunusat sen famulis scu mstodibus. Piofenintur in il- 
ium querela innumov^ ut vix exisdment efiugoe posse otitis supplidum. 
Hie est fnctun* ladas, ex ludimagistzo subvectus est ad legnum ; nam 
plane regnabat Tcrias quam ipse Rex. MetmebatMr ah omnUnu, amabatur a 
jMiKrir, mt dicam a memime. Faucis ante diebus quam ca:paetai, cuiayent 
Ricfaaidum Paoeum conjideDdum incaioerem, ac minitabaturetiammeo 
archiepiscopo Cantuariffisi Ante ruinam exaltantur sphitua ait Salomon. 
Aichicpiacopus Cantuariensis vocatmsy imo revocatus est AD Can cella- 
mii XVXU5, quo noQ aliud in Anglia majus: sed is excusavit letatem, 
jam impanm tanto negotio. Itaque piovincia defbgata est Thom^ 
Moso, magno omnium applausu, nee minoce bononim omnium Uetitia 
subvectus, quam dejectus Caidinalis.** « 



Hit may lyke your Highnes to call to your gra- 
ciouse remembraunce, that at such tyme as of that 
great weighty rome and office of your Chauncellor, with 
which 9 so far above my merits or qualitees able and 
mete, therefore your Highnes had of your incompar- 
able goodnes honored and exalted me, ye were so good 
and graciouse unto me as at my pore humble suit to 
discharge and disburden me; gevyng me lycence with 
your graciouse favor to bestow the resydew of my Xyte 
to come abowt the provysion for my soule in the ser- 
vyce of Grod, and to be yourbedisman and pray for you. 
It pleased your Highnes ferther to say imto me, that for 
the ser\*ice which byfore I had done yow (which it than 
lyked your goodnes far above my deserving to com- 
mend) that in eny suit that I shold after have to your 
Grace, that either shold conceme myn honor (that 
word it lyked your Highnes to use unto me) or that 

* Erasmi Epist. mcli. Joauni. Verganc. ut supr. torn, ii. col. 1348. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 49 

Bhold perteyne unto my profit, I shold fyndeyour High- 
nes good and graciouse lord unto me. So is it now 
graciouse Soverayne that worldely honor is the thing 
wherof I have resigned both the possession and the 
desyre, in the resignation of your moost honorable of- 
fice; and worldely profit I trust experience proveth, and 
dayly more and more shall prove, that I never was 
very gredy thereon. But now is my moost humble 
suit unto your excellent Highnes, partely to byseche 
the same some what to tendre my pore honestie, how 
beit, prjmcipally that of your accustomed goodnes no 
synistre information move your noble Grace to have 
eny more distrust of my trowth and devotion toward 
you than I have or shall during my lyfe geve the cause. 
For in this mater of the wykked woman of Canterbery, 
I have unto your trusty Counsailo' M*^ Thomas Crom- 
well, by my writing, as playnely declared the trowth 
as I possibly can, which my declaration, of his dewty 
toward your gracf and his goodnes toward me, he hath, 
I understand, declared unto your grace; in eny parte 
of all which my dealing, whither eny other man may 
peradventure put eny dowt, or move eny scruple of 
suspition, that can I neither tell nor lyeth in my hand 
to lett; but unto my selfe it is not possible eny parte of 
my sayed demeanure to seme evyll: the very clerenes 
of m3m awne conscience knoweth in all the mater my 
minde an entent so good. Wherfore moost graciouse 

V0L» II. E 



50 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Soverayne I neither will, nor it can bycome me, with 
your Highnes to reason or argue the mater; btat in 
my moost humble maner prostrate at your gradoitse 
feete I ownely besech your Majestie with your awne 
high prudence, and your accustomed goodnes, consy- 
dre and way the mater: and thatt if, in your so domg, 
your awne vertuouse mynde shall geve yow that tiot- 
withstanding the manifold excellent goodnes that your 
graciouse Highnes hath by so many maner wayes used 
unto me, I be a wreche of such a monstruouse ingrar 
titude as could with eny of theym all ot eny other per- 
son lyvinge digresse from my bounden dewtie of alle- 
geaunce toward your good Grace, than desyre I nofer- 
ther favor at your graciouse hands than the losseof all 
that ever I may lese, goods, Jands, libertie, and my life 
with all, whereof the keping of eny parte unto my selfe 
could never dp me peny worth of pleasure. But onely 
shold my cumforte be, that after my short lyfe and 
your long (which with continuall prosperitie to Godds 
pleasure our Lord for his mercy send yow) I shold on ys 
mete your Grace and be mery agayne with yo w in he- 
vyn, where among myn other pleasures this shold yit 
be one, that your Grace shold surely se there than, that 
howsbevei* yow take me, I am your tre w bedisman now, 
and ever have bene, and will be till I dye, hdw so ever 
your pleasure be to do by *me. How be it, if in the 
considering of iny caii^e, your Wgh "wisedom and 'gttb. 



PEIGINAL I>ETT£RS. SI 

dpuse goodnes perceive, as I v^eryly trust in God yow 
.^udl, that I nowe* other wise have demeaned my sdf 
than weH may stand with my bounden dutie of faith- 
fuhies toward your roiall Maiestie; than% in my moost 
humble wise, I besedie your inoost noble Grace that 
the knowledge of your trew graciouse persuation iii 
that byhalfe may relieve the turment of my present 
hevynes, conceived of the drede<and fere by that I here 
,such a grevouse byll put by your lemed Counsai% 
into your high Cort of Farleament agaynst me; lestie 
your Grajce myght by some synistre information be 
moved any thing to thinke the contrary, which if your 
EBgnes do not (as I trust in God and your great good- 
nes the mater by your awne high prudence examined 
iand oonsida;ed ye will not,) than in my moost hum- 
ble maner I beseche your Highnes ferther, (albe it thalt 
in respecte of my formare requeste this other thing is 
very sleight,) yit sith your Highnes hath here byfore 
of your mere habundaunt goodnes heped and accumu- 
late uppon me, thowgh I was thereto very far unwor- 
thy, fro tyme to tyme, both wurshipp and great ho- 
nor, to sith I now have left all such things, and nothing 
seke or desyre but the lyfe to come and pray for your 
grace the while it may lyke your highnes of your ao- 
custumed benignitie some what to tendre my pore ho^ 
nestie, ^d never suffire by the meane of such a byll 
pirt forth agaynst me eny man take occasion hereafter 

• no. ^then. 



52 OlIGIXAL LETTERS. 

untrewely to slander me; which thinge shold yit by 
the perell of theyr own soule, do theym selfe more 
harme than me which shall I trust settle m}m hart 
with your graciouse favor, to depende uppon the cum- 
fort of the trowth and hope of hevyn, and not uppon 
the fallible opinion or seme spoken words of lightsome 
chaungeable peple. And thus, most dredd and most 
dere soverayne Lord, I beseche the blessed Trinitie 
preserve your moost noble Grace, both body and soule, 
and all that are your well wyllers, and amend all the 
contrary ; among whom if ever I be or ever have bene 
one, than pray I God that he may with myn open 
shame and destruction declare it. At my pore howse 
in Chelcith the v*^ day of Marche by the knowen rude, 
hand of your moost humble and moost hevy faithful 
subjette and bedisman 

' THO. MORE kT 



LETTER CXVIII. 

Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell, upon 
Queen Anne's committal to the Tower. 

[ms. cotton, otho c. X. fol. 225. Orig.] 

*^* Six Letters are now presented to the Reader, relating to the arrest 
and BEHAVIOUR IN PRISON of Queen Anne Bolejm. They are given 
as tfaey exist at present ; in part mutilated by the ravages of the fire of 1 731 . 
Of Anne Bdeyn's conviction we know nothing beyond the fact. The ju- 
dicial documents relating to her Trial are stated to have perished : but 
whether destroyed by Henry the Eighth or Elizabeth is not known. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 53 



\ 



Anne Bdle3m*s last memoraUe Letter to King Henry the Eighth, 
^^ from her doleful prison in the Tower,'' is omitted in this CoUecticm. \ 
It is universally known as one of the finest compositions in the English 
Language, and is only mentioned here, to obviate a notion which has 
gone abroad against it as a forgery. 

The Original, it is believed, is not remaining now : but the Copy of 
it preserved among Lord Cromwell's papers together with Sir William 
Kjmgston's Letters, is certainly in a hand- writing of the time of Henry 
the Eighth : and Sir William K3mg8ton's evidence will show that Anne 
was too closely guarded to allow of any one concerting such a Letter with 
her. That it rises in style above Anne Boleyn's other compositions cannot 
be disputed, but her situation was one which was likely to rouse a cul- 
tivated mind ; and there is a character of nature in the Letter, a sim. 
plidty qf expression, and a unity of feeling, which it may be doubted 
whether Genius itself could have feigned. The pity of p<!)8terity has been \ 
more fixed upon Anne Boleyn by that Letter, than by all the cruel cir- 
cumstances related in her Story. ^ 

Mlio was Sir William Kpigston ? is a question, which they who 
peruse the Letters immediately before the reader, will in all probability 
indignantly ask. 

Sir William Kynostok, as the Letters will show, was the Lieu- 
tenant of the Tower ; he was also Captain of the King's Guard ; and at one 
time treasurer of his Household. He was in the confidence of the King, 
and his ofiice of Lieutenant of the Tower gave him access to the royal 
person at any hour, even of the night. He was evidently a man of a stem 
unfeeling character. When the Earl of Northumberland had arrested 
Wolsey upon his last journey, Cavendish named to the Cardinal that the 
King had sent Mr. Kyngston and twenty four of the guard, to conduct 
Wolsey to his Highness. '' Mr. Kyngston, quoth he, rehersing his name 
once or twice ; and with that clapped his hand on his thigh and gave a 
deep sigh." . 

Wolsey was not unacquainted with this man, nor with the secrets of 
his Office. When Kyngston made all those professions of homage and 
respect which Wolsey had been used to in his better days ; he simply said, 
^^ Mr. Kingston, all the comfortable words ye have spoken to me, be 
spoken but for a purpose to bring me into a fool's Paradise : / know 
what u provided for wi^."» 

Thys ys to advertyse you apon my Lord of Nor- 
folk and the Kyngs Counsell depart . . . from the 
Towre I went before the Quene in to hyr lodgyng, 

• Cavend. Life of Wokiey, Wordsw. edi.t p. 531. 



54 OKIGINAL LETTSRSw 

& . . .* sayd unto me M. Kyngston shall I go in 
to adungyn. Now Madam y . .^ shall go into 
your logyng that you lay in at your Coronacion. It 
ys to gu . . *^ for me, she sayd, Jesu have mercy on 

me : and kneled downe wepyng a pace, and 

in the same sorow fell in to agret lawyng, and she 
hathe done . . ^ mony tymes syns. And then she 
desyred me to move the Kyngs Hynes that she . • 
. « have the sacarment in the closet by hyr chambr, 

that she my for mercy, for I am as clere 

from the company of man, as for s 

. . am clere from you, and am the Ejmgs trew 

wedded wyf ; and then sh M. Kjmg- 

dton do you know wher for I am here, and I sayd nay, 

and then when saw you the Kyng and 

I sayd I saw hym not syns I saw the 

Tylte yerde and then M. K. I pray you to tell me 
wher my .... ford ' ys, and I told hyr I saw 

hym afore dyner in the cort. O my swet 

brod^'er. I sayd I left hym at York place, and so I 

dyd I d she that I shuld be accused 

with iij men and I can say nay withyowt 

I shuld oppen my body and ther with opynd . . . 
. . . .res Hast thow accused mef thow ar in the 

towre with me, & 1 dy to gether 

and marke thou art here to O my mother 

. . for sorow and meche lamented my lady of Wor- 

»/. 8he. y> you. <= gudc */• i*o. •/. might '/. my lord Rochford. 



OBiaiNAL LSTTSB^. 55 

c^' for by ca . . . . * dyd not store in hyr body, 

anid my wyf sayd what shuld . « • 

aayd for the sorow she toke for me ; ao^ th^ she sayd 
M. K ..... . with yowt just^; & I sayd the 

porest sugett the Kyng 

ther with she lawed. All thys sayipgs w^s yest^r ny 

& thys moryog dyd talke with mes- 

trys Cofy ........ rea* dyd say on Sim- 
day last unto the Quenes amn ...... ere for 

the Quene that she was a gud woQian , 

. . Cofyn, Madam why shuld ther be hony seche 

maters sayd she I bad hym do so for 

I asked hym why he ...... . hys maryage 

and he made ansur he wold tary 

loke for ded mens showyg, for yf owth can .... 
. . . you wold loke to have mo ; and he sayd yf he 

he wold hys hed war of, and 

then she sayd and ther with thay 

twysday 

fell yowt hot <....... on Wysson monday 

last ..... r that Nores cam mode u . . . . 

. . . . age and further 

Wher I was commaunded to charge the gentelwemen 
that y gyf thaye atende apon the Quene that ys to say 
thay shuld have now commynycaseon with hyr in lese^ 
my wyf ware present, and so I dyd hit, notwithstaund- 
yng it canot be : for my lady Bolen and mestrys Co- 

•/. Nonefc See Lord Herberts p. 382. ^ unless. 



56 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

fyn lyes on the Quenes palet, and I and my wyf at the 
dore with yowt so at* thay most nedes talke at* be 
without ; hot I have every thyng told me by mestrys 
Cofyn that she thynks met for mee to knowe, and 
tother ij gentelwemen lyes with yowt me and as I may 
knowe . . . K3mgs plesur in the premysses I shall 

folow. From the Towre this mo 

S^ syns the makyng of thys letter the Quene spake 

of West ^ had spoke to hym by cause 

he dyd love hyr kynswoma he 

sayd he loved not hys wyf and he made anser to hyr 

: loved won in hyr howse bettr then them 

bothe that it ys your self and then she 

defyed h)rm. 

WILLM KYNG . . . 



LETTER CXIX. 



Sir William Kyngstcm to Secretary Cromwellj on 
Queen Anne's behaviour in Prison, 

[ms. cotton, otho c. X. foL 222. Orig.'\ 



After your depart)mg yesterday, Greneway gentil- 
man ysshar cam to me, & . . . M. Caro and Mast' 
Bryan commanded hjnm in the Kyngs name to my 
. .*^ Ratchfort from my lady hys wyf, and the mes- 
sage was now more se how he dyd ; and 

■ that. ^ Sir Francis Weston. « Lord of. 



OUtGIKAL LETTERS. 57 

also she wold humly sut unto the Kyngs Hy . . . 
. . for h}rr husband ; and so he gaf hyr thanks, and 
desjrred me to know .... tym^ he shuld cum 

affore the Kyngs counsell, for I thynk Is 

. cum forthe tyll I cum to my Jogement, wepyng very 

• I departed from hym, and when 

I cam to the chambr the * of me and 

sent for me, and sayde I here say my lord my . . . 
.^ here ; it ys trowth sayd I ; I am very glad, sayd sh 

bothe be so ny together ; and I showed 

hyr here wase .... Weston and Brerton, and 
she made very gud countenans .... I also sayd 
M. Page and Wyet wase mo, then she sayd he ha . 
, . . on hys fyst tother day and ye here now bot 

ma I shall desjrre you to bayre a Letter 

from me Secretory ; and then I 

sayd madam tell it me by will do it, 

and so gaf me thanks saying I ha 

that the Kyng^s Counsell comes not to me and thys . 
.... sayd we shuld have now rayne tyll she ware 
.of the Towre. I pray you it may be- 
shortly by fajnre wether. You know 

what I mayne the Quen i^yght that the 

K3nig wyst what he dyd wh ij abowt 

hyr as my lady Boleyn and M estres 

Thay cowd tellhyrnowthyngofmy 

. . nothyng ellys bot she defyed them all b . . . 
sayd to hyr seche desyre as you heve ha 

• /. Queue heard of mc. >• /. brother is. 



58 ORIGINAL LETTEB8. 

base browthe you to thjrs and thea 

sayd ys the worst cherysshe of 

heny m wa3nres yemes she 

sayd that was gentehnan bot 

he wase never in m ther 

she sent for hym to pie 

• « . logyng was 

for I 

» 

never spake with hym syns, bot apon Saterday before 
May day, and then I fond hym. standyng in the ronde 
wyndo in my Chambr of presens, and 1 asked why 
he wase so sad and he ansured and sayd it was now 
mater, and then she sayd you may not loke to Have 
me speke to you as I shuld do to anobull man by cause 
you be aninferer persson. No no Madam, aloke sut 
ficed me ; and thus far you well . . he hathe asked 
my wyf whether heny body maks thayr bed * . . 
. . y wyf ansured and sayd nay I warant you, then 

she say y myght make baletts Well 

now bot ther ys non bet d that 

can do it, yese sayd my wyf master Wyett by . • . 

sayed trew. 

. . . . my lord my brod** will dy . 

. . . . ne I am sur thys was as willm kyngston. 

. . . tt downe to detf thys day. 

thys day at diner I sent M. Nores hys 

diner & sent hym aknave to hys 



OEI6INAL LETTERS. 59 

preBtthfttwaytedaponhym withe 

. . . t umto kjm and he aEisured him agsiyn . . . 

ny thyng of my confession he 

ys worthye to have hyt I defy 

bjFm ; and also he desyreth to hav 

. . If anowre yf it may be the Kyngs plesur . 

WILLM KYNG . . . 



LETTER CXX. 

Sir WiUiam Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell^ with 
further details of the QueerCs conduct. 

[MS. COTTON. OTHO c. X. foL 224. b. Orig,] 



Sa the Quene hathe meche desyred to have here in 
the closet the sacarments, & also hyr Anmer who she 
supposeth to be Devet ; for won owre she ys determyn- 
ed to dy, and the next owre meche contrary to that. 
Yesterday after your departyng I sent for my wyf, & 
also for mestrys Coffyn to know how the* had done that 
day, thay sayd she had bene very mery and made agret 
dyner, and yet sone after she called for hyr supper, 
havyng marvell wher I was all day ; and after supper 
she sent for me, and at my commyng she sayd " Wher 
have you bene all day,^ and I mad ensure I had bene 
with prysoners, " so'' she sayd " I thowth I hard M. 
tre$iir . • .'^ I ansured he was not here ; then she be 
gan talke and sayd I was crevely handeled .... 
agreweche with the Kyngs Counsell with my lord of 

• they. 



60 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Norfolke that he sayd .... and shakyng hyr 
hed iij or iiij tymes, and as for Master Tresurer he 
was in the T . . . . You know what she meynes 
by that, and named M^ Controler to be avery go . . 

she to be a Quene and crevely handeled 

as was never sene ; bot I dose it 

to prove me, and dyd lawth with all and was very mery 

and th ists and then I sayde 

have now dowt ther . . . then she sayd yf hony 

man ^y & thay can bring now 

wytnes, and she had talked with the gentell .... 

.... sayd I knew at Marks comm3mg to the Towre 

that nyght I reysayved ...... at it was x. of 

the cloke or he ware well loged and then she sayd . . 
. . knew of Nores goyng to the towre and then 

she sayd I had next yf it had bene 

leyd she had wone, and then she sayd I w . . . . 
. . y bysshoppys for thay wold all go to the Kjmg 

for me for I thy Yngland prays for 

me and yf I dy you shall se the grette e 

withyn thys vij yere that ^ver cam to Yngland, & then 
sh ....... I have done mony gud dedys in 

my days bot zit I thynke Kyng 

to put seche abowt me as I never loved: I showed 

to be honest and gud wemen bot I wold 

have had br weche I favor most &c 

WILLM KYNGST . . 

To Mast'. Secretory. 



ORIGINAL LETTKRS. 61 

LETTER CXXI. 

Edward Baynton to the Treasurer : declarmg that only 
one person named Mark^ mU con/ess any thhig 
against Queen Anns, 

[ms. cotton, otho c. X. foL 209. b. Orig.l 



M* Thesaueee this shalbe to advertyse yow that 
here is myche communycacion that noman will con- 
fesse any thyng agajmst her, but allonly M arke of any 
actuell thynge. Wherfore (in my folishe conceyte) 
it shulde myche toche the Kings hono'^ if it shulde no 
farther appeere. And I cannot beleve but that the 
other two bee as f . . . culpapull as ever was hee. 
And I thynke assur .... the on kepith the others 
councell. As many .... conjecturesinmymynde 
causeth me to thynk . . . specially of the commu- 
nycacion that was last bet . . . the Quene and 
Master Norres. M. Aumener . . • me as I wolde 
I myght speke with M!! S and yow toge- 
ther more playnely expresse my . , . yf case be 
that they have confessyd like wret ... all thyngs 
as they shulde do than my n ....... at 

apojHite. I have mewsed myche at of 

mastres Margery whiche hath used her . . . ♦^ 
strangely toward me of late being her fry . . .* as I 
have ben. But no dowte it cann .... but that 

• A frynd. 



6S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

she must be of councell therewith .... hath ben 

great frjrndeship betwene the Q her of 

late. I herefarther that the Que . . standith styfiy 

in her op)myon that she wo whidie I 

thynke is in the trust that she .... ther two. 

But if yo'^ bus3nies be suche not com 

I wolde gladly com and wayte ke 

it requysyte. From Grenewy 

mom3mg. 

EDWABD 



ss 



LETTER CXXII. 



Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, May 16? 
1536, upon the preparations for the execution of my 
Lord Roctiford and Queen Anne. 

[ha&l. MS. 283. foL 134. Orig.] 



SlU 

Thys day I was with the Kyng's Graceimd 
declared the petysyons of my Lord of Roofaford wher- 
in I was answred. Sir the sayd Lord meche de63rreth 
to speke with you, weohe towchet hys consyens meche 
Us he sayth, wherin I pray you I may know your pie- 
sur, for by cause of my promyi^se made unto my ^ajrd 
liOrd to do the same, and also I shall desyre you fur* 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 63 

ther to know the Kyngs plesur towchyng the Quene, 
as well for her comfjrt as for the preparacion of skefolds 
aoid hother necessarys consemyng. The Kyngs grace, 
showed me that my lord of Cantorbury shuld be hyr 
confessar, and was here thys day with the Quene ; & 
not* in that mater, Sir, the tyme ys short, for the Kyng 
supposeth the gentelmen to dy to morow, and my 
lord of Rocheford with the reysydew of gentelmen, & 
as zit with yowt . . . . .^ wedie I Idke for, bot I have 
told my lord of Rocheford that he be in aredynes to 
morow to suffiir execusyon, and «o he accepse*^ it very 
well, and will do his best to lie redy, Notwithstandyng 
he wtdd have reysa.j\ed hys ryghts, weche hathe not 
bene used and in especiall here. Sir I shall desyre 
you at^ we here may know the K3mgs plesur here as 
shortly as may be, at^ we here may prepayre for the 
fsfltme weche® ys necessary, for the same we here have 
now may for to do execusyon. Sir I pray you have 
gud rymembrance in all thys for hus^ to do, for we 
shalbe redy al ways to our knowlage. Zit thys day 
at djnier the Quene sayd at^ she shuld go to An- 
vuresS & ys in hope of lyf, and thus far you well. 

WILLM KYNGSTON. 

• udfew -*>/. confession. • accepts. ^ thAt. • i, e- what, 

'us. -tAnvers« Antwerp. 



64 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CXXIII. 

Sir WiUiam Kingston to Lord Cromwell^ apparently 

May lay 1586. 

[m8. cotton, otho c. X. foL 223. Ong,'\ 



Sye thys shalbe to advertyse you I have resayved 
your Lett' wherin yo . . . .* have strangerys con- 
veyed yowt of the Towre and so thay be by the . . 
. . of Richard Gressum, & Will-m Loke, & Wythe- 
poD, hot the umbr** of stra . . . not xxx. and not 
mony; Hothe and the inbassifof the emperor had a 
.... ther and honestly put yowt. S*" yf we have 
not anowre*^ serten . . . . ^ be knowen in London, 
I thynke he« wilbe hot few and I thynk , , . J 
humburfi^ ware bes: for I suppose shewyll declare hyr 
self to b . . . .^^ woman for all men bot for the 

Kyngat theo^of hyr de» mom- 

yr\g^ she sent for me that I myght be with hyr at . . 
. . . asshe reysayved the gud lord to the in tent I 
shuld here hy . . . . towchyng hyr innosensy al- 

way to be clere & in the writy she sent 

for me, and at my commyng she sayd M. Kjnigston I 

he * not dy affore none, & I am very 

sory ther fore; for I thowth .... bedede . . d 
past my payne. I told hyr it shuld be now payne it 

■/. you would have. >> number. ■ an hour. < as it may be. L. Herb. • hen. 
' a reasonable. 1« H«;-6. f number. >> be a. /,. H<»-6. 'death. ^ for this 
morning. L. Heri). > I heard say I shall not L> Hmrh, 



OSIGINAL LETTERS. 65 

w ...... a hard say the execut*^ was very gud 

and I have a lyt r*^ hand abowt 

it lawyng hartely. 

I have ^en . • ^ . . also wemen executed and 

at*^ they have bene in gre ige. 

Thys Lady hasse meche joy and plesur in dethe 
. . . . . . . newaly with hyr and hasse bene 

syns ij of the co the effect of hony 

thyng that ys here at t well 

Your .... 

WILLM KY 

To Mast'. Secretory. 



The names of those who were called Anne Boleyn*s accusers have oc- 
curred in the preceding Letters. 

The dose of her catastrophe shall be detailed in the words of Burnet : 

^^ A little before noon, being the 19^i>. of May, she was brought to the 
Scaffold, where she made a short speech to a great company that came to 
look on the last scene of this fatal Tragedy : the chief of whom were the 
Dukes of Suffolk and Richmond, the Lord Chancellor, and Secretary 
Cromwell, with the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and Aldermen of London. 
She said she was come to die, as she was judged by the Law ; she would 
accuse none, nor say any thing of the ground upon which she was judged. 
She prayed heartily for the King ; and called him a most merciful and 
gentle Prince, and that he had been always to her a good, gentle, sovereign 
lord : and if any would meddle with her cause, she required them to judge 
the best. And so she took her leave of them and of the world ; and heartily 
desired they would pray for her. After she had been some time in her 
•devotions, being her last words *■ to Christ I commend my Soul,' her 
head was cut off by the hangman of Calais, who was brought over as more 
expert at beheading than any in England : her eyes and lips were observed 
to move after her head was cut off, as Spelman writes ; but her body was 
thrown into a common chest of elm tree, that was made to put arrows in, 
and was buried in the chapel within the Tower before twelve o'clock. 

'^ Her brother with the other four did also suffer. None of them were 
quartered, but they were all beheaded, except Smeton, who was hanged. It 
was generally said, that he was corrupted into that confession, and had his 
• was so sot«Il. Herb, *> s lyttel neck and put her hand. Hrrb. c that. 
VOL. II. t' 



66 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

life promised him ; but it wbs not fit to kt him live to tell tales, Norris 
had been much in the King^s favour, and an offer was made him of his life, 
if he would confess his guilt, and accuse the Queen. But he generously 
rejected that unhandsome proposition, and said that in his conscioice he 
thought her innocent of these things laid to her charge ; but whether she 
was or not, he would not accuse her of any thing, and he would die a thou- 
sand times rather than ruin an innocent person." *■ 

On the day of the execution, Henry the Eighth put on white for mourn- 
ing, as though he would have said, *• I am innocent of this -deed:' and 
the next day was married to Jane Seymour. 

The good Melanchton, whose visit to England was prevented by the 
afflicting news of the Queen^s execution, has elegantly expressed 'Us 
opinion of her innocence, in a letter to Joachim Gameraxius^ dated on 
the fifth of the ides of June 1536 : 

'' Anglics profectionis cura prorsus liberatus sum. Postquam enim 
tam tragid casus in Anglia acdderunt, magna consiliorum mutatio secuta 
est. Posterior REGINA, magis accusata quam cowicta adttl- 
TERii, ultimo supplido affecta est. Quam mixabiles sunt remm vices, 
mi Joachime, quantam Dei iram omnibus hominibus denundant, in 
quantas calamitates etiam ex smnmo fastigio potentissimi homines hoc 
tempore deddunt Haec cum cogito, etiam nobis srumnas nostras et 
nostra pericula aequiore animo ferenda esse disputo.'* ^ 

To some it has been a cause of sttrprize, that Anne Bole3m should have 
passed an encomium upon Henry the Eighth at her death. Indeed it is 
remarkable that at almost every execution in that sanguinary period, the 
praise of the Sovereign was pronounced by those who fell upon the scaf- 
fold. It seems to have been so directed by the Government. Tyndale, 
fi»m whose ^^ Practice of Prelates*' we have already made an extract 
respecting the disdosure of Confessions, has another passage upon this 
point, too important not to be given here : 

^' When any great man is put to death, how his Confessoie entreateth 
him ; and what penance is enjoyned him concerning what he shall say 
when he cometE unto the place of execution. I coude gesse at a pnu%se 
that might make mennes eares glowe.*'* 

In Anne Boleyn's case, however, it may be in part ascribed to anxiety 
for the safety of her daughter. 

Anne Bcdeyn's execution was a fatal precedent for succeeding times. 
Henry having beheaded one Queen, proceeded fearlessly to the beheading 
of another. Elizabeth familiarized the application of the axe to royalty 
one step farther; for she beheaded a foreign Queen who had taken shelter 
in her dominions. Half a Century later, and the people beheaded their 
Sovereign. 

> Burnet, Hist. Reform, vol. i. p. 205. >> Melancht. Epist. 8^ Lip8« 15<i9. 

» Pract. of Prelates, 12o Marborch, 1530. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 61 

LETTER CXXIV. 

Lady Bochefbrd to Secretanry Cromwell. 

[ms. cottox. vbsf. f. xiix. foL MO b. Orig,\ 

%* The profligate woman whose .smooth Letter now pres^its itseU*) 
was the wife of the viscount Jtochfocd, the br9ther. «f Anne Bqleyn \ Her 
calumnies against that injured Queen were equally void of truth and hu- 
manity. . She even pietended that her own Inisbaad was engaged in a cri- 
minal eono^spondence with, his sister.. 

Her career, hawever, was not of long duration. She entangled herself 
^Ndlh the real anwmm of Queen; Catherine Howaid, and, as will be seen 
heieaf^, fell with her upon the scaffold in 1542, u^j^ti^. 

The Bin of Attainder of Queen Catherine Howard, stat. 33 Hen. VIII. 
<li. zzL states that the Queen had met Culpqper ^ in a seeret and vyle 
pUce^ ai]4 ^k^ ftt an undue hower of xi. .a plocke jn th^ night, and so re- 
mayned there wi£h him till three of the docke in the mominge, none being 
with them but that Mn»de the Ladt Jake Rochf4>rd, by whose meanes 
CuLjpeper came thither.*' 



Mayster Secretory, as a power desolat wydow 
wythoute comffort, as to my specyall trust under Grod 
and ioay Pryns, I have me most humbly recommendyd 
unto youe; prayng youe, after your accustemyd gentyll 
maner to all them that be in suche lamentabull case 
as I ame in, to be m^ane to. the Kyngs gracyous Hygh- 
nes for me for suche power stuffe and plate as my^hus- 
bonde had, whome God pardon; that of hys gracyous 
and mere lyberalyte I may have hyt to helpe me to 
my power lyvyng, whiche to his Hyghnes ys nothynge 
to be regardyd, and to me schuld be a most hygh 
helpe arid souccor. And farther more, where that the 

• Sim was daughter of Henry Parker* son of Henry Parker Lord Morley and 
Montegte, who died in his father's lifetime. See Dugd. Baron, torn. ii. p. 30T. 



68 OKIGIKAL LETTERS. 

Kjmgs Hyghnes and my Ldrd my father payed great 
soms of money for my Joynter to the Errell of Wylt- 
chere to the some off too thowsand Marks, and I not 
assuryd of no more duryng the sayd Errells naturall 
lyff then one hundreth Marke ; whyche ys veary hard 
for me to schyffte the worldd wythall. Thatyoue wyll 
so specyally tender me in thys behalff as to enforme 
the Kjmgs Hyghnes of these premysses, wherby I may 
the more tenderly be regardyd of hys gracyous per- 
sone, youre Worde in thys schall be to me a sure 
helpe : and God schall be to youe therfore a sure re- 
ward, whyche dothe promes good to them that dothe 
helpe powere forsaken Wydos. And bothe my prayer 
and servys schall helpe to thys duryng my naturall 
lyff, as most bounden so to doo, Grod my wyttnes ; 
whoo ever more preserve you. 

JANE ROCHEFORD. 



LETTER CXXV. 



John de Ponte^ a poor Frenchman^ to Secretary 

Cromwell. 

[ms. cotton, tit. b. I. foL 358. Ort^.] 

Juste deprecantibus nichil denegari debet. 1536. 

MoNs' I beseche God geve yow thesame that your 
noble hert desyreth, and Victorye agenst your Ene- 
myes. Amen. 



OBIGIXAL LKTTEJIS. 69 

. Mons": troth it is that the furst day of Juny, the vi- 
ciury of Honnyngton and an other prest pray d me to 
dyne with them in John Bould^s house at the signe of 
the golden Lycm. I went thether with them, and an 
other named Granger and Ml Nedersolles wiff and 
M'. Wrakes wiffe, and of John Bould, all of Dover 
were there at djmer. Whan we had half d3aied, one 
of the Masters of Grodds Howses sernamit called 
Trasse, sayd that he had newes for the company touch- 
ing Quene Katherine. Saying that the day afore my 
lady Anne was behedded, the tapers aboute the said 
quene Katherine sepulchres kendeld of them selfs and 
after matynes were don to Deo gratias the said tapers 
qwenched of them selfs ; and that the King sent xxx. 
men to the Abbaye wher quene Katherine was bviryed ; 
and it was true of this light contynuyng from day to 
daye with suche a token that within fewe days ther 
shuld he geven a commaundement to pray for quene 
Katherine as it was acoustomed to be don: and that 
after the same a grete hepe of heretiks and newe in- 
vencions shuld be hanged and brent; as I who was the 
gretest heretik of England and a false knave; and that 
shortely I shuld be befor the Kings Conseill, like a 
false knave that I was, for certayn matiers whiche he 
knew well, whiche he wold not saye for that tyme: and 
that I shuld merke well what he said. After that I had 
heard all his sayng and words, I said, merk well what 
this man saieth of me. I said unto hym that he spak 



70 OEiaiNAL LETTERS. 

moche to my dishonour saing that 1 was a grete he- 
i^tike, and that I shuldbe hanged and brent. Askyng 
whether he had heard me preadie or spek h^resye, he 
sayd ys, and that I had eaten mylk, butter/ and eggs. 
I said that t hacf eaten milk and bt^^r, and that it 
Was no heresie: but as for egff^ I did eate non for I 
k)ved them not. He saM tmto me dgdyii' that ther wer 
ferre other things whfche he wold not saye, but that I 
Was a falise Frenshe knaVe^ with' great mjuries. I toke 
paitiently feaa^e lest he shuld strlkke me, for he had a 
swerd and a dagger. I tok witnesses, and all the com- 
panye said unto hym that he shuld be content and that 
I was tiot of suche as he spake of. He said that his 
mouth was afore and that he shuld hold befor the 
Kings Counseill the same that he had spoken. Mons^ 
I put myself to yoiu: good Grace I being true ; deale 
with me : as it shal please you pleaseth me. I am the 
Kings and Yours in every thing unto deth. Praying 
God that he geve you grace to continue in helth. 
Amen. The your servartmt and lesse of your servants 
Mon" Jebain de Ponte. 

De Pomte, the fiirst day of Juny 
N*J Monst ye owe to be adveftissed that I am in 

danger to be kylled of them of Godds house ; and I 
deare not abyde in the Chapell for feare of them. They 
wolld that I should flye in to Fraunce for their threat- 
enyiigs, ctod they put me in fear6 ; but I shall neve do 
dishonor to my frend^. But if it shal please You to 



OaiGINAL LETTERS. 71 

geve me leave, I had lieve to go away then to be kylled 
withoute desserte. Mons*" I wold ye shuld knowe the 
love of my hert as it is unto deth. 

To Mons^ Mons'. Thomas Cromwell tan secretary 
to the King the right myghty King of England at the 
Courte. 



LETTER CXXVI. 

Edmtmd KntghUeyj and three other Commissioners^ 
to Secretwry Cromwell^ in favor of the Nunnery of 
Catesby in Northamptonshire. 

m 

[M8, COTTON'. CLEOP. E. IV. foL 209. Orig,] 

*^* The Cottonian manuscript Cleopatra e. iv., whence this and 
some of the succeeding Letters have been copied, is a moie curious Vo- 
lume of its kind, than any which is known to exist elsewhere. It consists 
of Papers and Letters, the latter written chiefly to Lord Cromwell, at the 
time of the Dissolution of Religious Houses ; a portion of which are Re- 
ports from certain Commissioners sent to take tihe various Surrenders. 

To defame, that ruin might be more certainly accomplished, was the 
object of the visiting Commissioners to the Monasteries in numerous 
instances ; but a few occur in which they even petitioned for the pre- 
servation of the Houses which they went to dissolve ; so earnest did they 
find the devotion, so discrete the lives, and so great the hospitality of the 
Inhabitants. 

The Nuns, it should appear, were more generally pitied than the 
Monks. Accordingly, among the Houses recommended to mercy, we find 
the Nunneries of Godestow^in Oxfordshire, PoUesworth in Warwickshire, 
and Catesby in Northamptonshire^ standing foremost. Of the last, the 
Commissioners unequivocally declared that, should it please his Majesty 
to have any remorse, they could not name a House more mete than this 
to be the receiver of his charity and pity. The Letter of recommendation 
is here placed befoce the reader. 



78 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

That the Nunneries were more universally intitled to compassion Qma 
the Houses of the Monks, and Canons, and Friars, cannot be denied. 
Hume has very justly observed, that, at the period we are now mentioning, 
a woman of family who failed of a settlement in the maniage' state, an 
accident to which such persons were more liable than women of lower 
station, had really no rank which she properly filled ; and a Convent was 
a retreat both honourable and agreeable, from the inutility and often want 
which attended her situation. 



Right honorable after all humble recommendations 
theis shalbe to advertyse you that we have byn yn 
execution of the Kyngs Commission directed unto us, 
begynnyng at Chacumbe, wher we accomplysshed all 
thyngs accordyng unto our Cominyssion, and frome 
thens we repayred to Assheby, where after on days 
tarreyng we werre fayne to departe thens unto Gates- 
by Nunrey by occasion of sykenesse where we have 
also accomplisshed the Kyngs Commyssion accordyng 
to his high commandement and our poore discre- 
cions. Which Howse of Catesby we founde in very 
perfett order, the Priores a sure wyse, discrete, and 
very religyous woman, with ix. nunnys under her obe- 
dyencye, as relygious and devoute, and with as good 
obedyencye as we have in tyme past seen, or belyke 
shall see. The seid Howse standyth in suech a quar- 
ter, muche to the releff of the Kjmgs people, and his 
Grace'^s pore subjects their lykewyse mooe relewed, 
as by the reporte of dyvers worshjrpfuU nere ther un- 
to adjoynyng, as of all other, yt ys to us openly de- 
clared. Wherfore yf yt shulde please the Kyngs 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 73 

Hi^nesse .to have eny remorse that eny suche rely- 
gous House shall stande, we thynke his Grace cannot 
appoynt eny House more mete to shew his most gra- 
cious charitie and pitey on than one* the seid Howse 
of Catesby. Ferther ye shall uiiderstande that as to 
her bounden dewtye towards the Kjmgs Highnes in 
theis his affayres, also for dyscrete entertaynment of 
ws his commyssioners and our company, we have not 
fownde nor belyke shall fynde eny ^uche of more dys- 
cretion. And lese peraventure theyr may be labor 
made to her detryment and other undoyng, before 
knowleg showlde cum to his Highnesse and to yow 
frome ws**, yt may therfore plase yow to sygnify unto 
his Hyghnesse the eflTecte of theis our Lettres, to 
th^entent his Grace may stay the Graunte theyrof tyll 
suche tyme we may ascerteyn yow of our full certy- 
fycat and comparts in that behalfe accordyng. Frome 
Catesby the xij. day off this present moneth off May, 
from the Kyngs Commyssioners at your commande- 
ment. 

EDMOND KNYGHTLEY. 
JOHN LANE. 
GEORGE GYFFARD. 
ROBERT BURGOYN. 



• oil. •» us. 



Tl OttlGINAL LETTKBS. 



LETTER CXXVII; 

The Prioress and Convent of the Cistercian Nunnery 
of Legbome in lAncolnshire to their Founder^ pre- 
vious to the Dissolution of their House, a. d. 1637. 

[ms. cotton, cleof. e. IV. fol. 270 b. Onsg".] 

*«* The Naimery of Legbom was founded before or about the year 
1150; haying been removed from another place caOed Halington; but 
the name of its first founder has not come down to us* 

The FouxpER mentioned in the following Letter was the Patzont 
who was usually the heir-general of the individual to whose munificence 
the Priory or Abbey owed its first construction : and it was lawfol for 
that heir, if the rents and profits of the endowment were not applied to th; 
ends and uses for which they were originally given, to re-daim, and re- 
sume the lands. 

These Patrona were intitled to different privileges in different Houses, 
according to the terms of their respective charters of foundation. To 
some Monasteries they presented the head or superior; in othem diey 
only approved of the election. In many they were allowed to place their 
children first for education, and afterwards as professed, and in others to 
provide their relatives with what were called corrodies.. 

The Monks and Nuns, in many of the Monasteries, seem hardly to 
have thought the lands they were possessed of secure, unless confirmed 
from time to time by the successive heirs, as their Patrons. 

The Nuns o/'Legborn, it appears, conscious that their lives were ir- 
reproachable, besought their Patron to interfere in behalf of their House. 



Right honourabk our most syijguler Maister and 
Founder, our duetie in the humblest wise presup- 
posed, with dayly prayer, as your perpetuall and reli- 
gious beedwomen. Please yt your goodnes to undir- 
stonde, that where as Almyghty God hath indued you 
w'^ just tijtle Founder of the Pryory of Legbome to 



ORIGINAL LSTTEKS. 75 

the great comfort of me and all my systers : we doo 
and shall alweyes submit ourselfs to youre most righ- 
tuouse commaundement and ordre, oonly puttjmg our 
Comfort m your goodnesse for all causes concemyng 
your poure Pryory of Legbourne. And where as we 
doo here that a grete nombre of Abbyes shalbe pu- 
nysshed, subprest, and put downe bicause of their 
myslyyyng; and that all Abbyes and Pryores undir 
the value of CC? be at our moste noble Prynce's plea- 
sure to subpresse and put downe. Yet if it may pleas 
your goodnes, we trust in Gkxl ye shall here no com- 
pleynts agaynst us, nother in our lyv3mg nor hospi- 
talitie kepyng. In consideracion wherof if it may 
please your goodnes, in our great necessitie, to be a 
meane and sewter for your owne powre Pryory, that 
it maye be preserved and stcHid, you shalbe a more 
higher Founder to vs than he that first foundid oure 
Howse. We have noon othir comfort nor refuge but 
oonly unto your goodnes, and we hooly submyt our 
selfs to the pleasure of Grod, to the pleasure of our 
Prjmoe, and to the pleasure of you our Founder ; and 
how soever it shall please God that we shalbe or- 
derid, we shall continue your faithfuU and dayly 
bedewomen. As knoweth oure Lorde who ever pre- 
serve you to your most comfort. 

Yo"^ owne dayly beadwomen 

JAKE MESSYNDTNE PryOTCS 

and siSTEKs of the fbyory q^legbobne. 



76 ORIGINAL LliTTERS. 



LETTER CXXVIII. 

Tliomas Bedyll to Lord CromweUy respecting the 
Monks of the Charter House at London, a. d. 1637. 

[ms. cottok. cleop. e. IV. foL 217* Orig,] 

•^* " The nineteenth day of Jun^" says Hall, in the 27*- of Henry 
Vlllth. *'*• were thre Monkes of the Charterhouse hanged, drawen, and 
quartred at Tyhome, and their quarters set up ahout London, for deniyng 
the Kjmg to be Supreme Head of the Churche. Their names were Ex- 
mewe, Myddlemore, and Nudigate. These men, when they were arrained 
at Westminster, behaved themselves very stiffly and stubbornly ; for hear- 
ing their inditement red, how traiterously they had spoken against the 
King's Majesty, his crown, and dignity, they neither blushed nor bashed at 
it, but very foolishly and hypocritically knowledged their treason, whidi 
maliciously they avouched, having no learning for their defence ; but rather 
being asked divers questions, they used a malicious silence, thinking as by 
their examinations afterward in the Tower of London it did appear, for so 
they said, that they thought those men which were the lord Cromwell and 
other that there sat upon them in judgement, to be heretics and not of the 
Church of God, and therefore not worthy to be either answered or spoken 
unto. And therefore, as they deserved, they received as you have heard 
before." a 

The following Letter will explain the less merciful treatment frhich 
some of the other Monks of the Charter House received. 



My very good Lord, after my moost hertie com- 
mendations it shall please yo** Lordship to understand 
that the monks of the Charterhouse here at London, 
whiche wer committed to Newgate for thair traitorus 
behavor long tyme continued against the Kings Grace, 
be almoost dispeched by th'and of God ; as it may ap- 
per to you by this byll inclosed. Wherof considering 

• Hall's Chron. edit isoo. p. SIT. 



OEIGINAL LKTTERS. 77 

thair behavor and the hole mater, I am not sory, but 
wold that al suche as love not the Kings Highnes and 
his wordly* honor wer in like caas. My Lord (as ye 
may) I desir you in the wey of charite, and none other 
wise, to be good lord to the Prior of the said Char- 
terhouse, which is as honest a man as ever was in that 
habite (or els I am muche deceyved), and is one whiche 
never offended the Kings grace by disobedience of 
his Lawes, but hath labored very sore continually 
for the reformation of his brethem, and now at the 
last, at myn exhortation and instigation, constantly 
moved and finally persuaded his brethem to surrender 
thair house, lands, and goods, into the Kings hands, 
and to trust only to his mercy and grace. I beseche 
you, my Lord that the said Prior may be so entreated 
by your help, that he be not sory, and repent that 
he hath fered and folowed your sore words and my 
gentil exhortation made unto him to surrender his 
said house; and think that he myght have kept the 
same, if yo' Lordshyp and I had not led him to the 
said surrender. But suerly (I beleve) that I knowe 
the man so well that how soever he be order ^ he wol- 
be contented without grudge. He is a man of suche 
charite as I have not seen the like. As towching the 
house of the Charterhouse I pray Good*^ if it shall 
please the King to alter it, that it may be turned into 
a better use (seing it is in the face of the world) and 

• worldly. •» ordered. • God. 



78 OUIUINAL LETTERS. 

muche communication wol run thereof throughout this 
realme ; for London is the commcm countrey of al En- 
gland, from which is derived to al parts of this realme 
al good and yll occurrent here. From London the 
xiiij* day of Juny. 

By yo" Lordships at 
commaundement 

THOMAS BEDTLL. 

Ther be departed. 
Brother William Greenewode. 
Dane John Davye. 
Brother Robert Salt. 
Brother Water Peereson. 
Dane Thomas Greene. 

Ther be even ai the paynt qfdethe. 
Brother Thomas Scr3nren. 
Brother Thomas Reed)mg. 

Ther be sycke. 
Dane Thomas Jonson. 
Brother William Hore. 

One is hole. 
Dane Bird. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. * 79 



LETTER CXXIX. 

Dr. John Ijondon^ one of the Visitors qf Religious 
Hoases^ to Lord Cromwell^ upon the pulling dozsm of 
the Image ofov/r Lady qfCaversham^ near Reading ; 
and injavour of the Corporation qfthat Totem. 

[mS. COTTOK. CLEOP. E. iv. ioL 226. Orig.] 



Ik my most humble maner I have me commendyd 
unto yowr gude lordeschippe, acertenyng the same 
that I have pullyd down the Image of o^ Iiadye at Car- 
versham wherunto wasse great pilgremage. The Image 
ys platyd over with sylver, and I have putte yt in a 
cheste fast lackyd » and naylyd uppe, and by the next 
bardge that commythe from Reding to London yt 
shall be browght to yo' Lordeschippe. I have also 
pullyd down the place she stode in w^all other cere- 
mony es, as lights, schrds \ crowchys% and imagies <tf 
wex hangyng abowt the chapel, and have defacyed th^ 
same thorowly in exchujmg of any farther resortt the- 
dyr. Thys chapell dydde belong to Notley «ibbey, 
and ther always wasse a chanon of that monastery wicbe 
wasse callyd the Warden of Caversham, and he songe 
in thys ch^pell and hadde the offerings for hys lyving. 
He wasse ^ujustcwnyd to schew many pety rejyks, 

• locked. >* ahmwds. « crosses. 



80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

among the wiche wer (as he made report!) the holy 
dager that kylled Eiuge Henry ; and the holy knyfe 
that kylled Se3ait Edwarde. All thees w' many other, 
with the cots of thys image, her cappe and here, my 
servant rfiall bring unto yo"^ Lordeshippe thys weke 
w* the Surrenidre of the Freers undre ther covent seale, 
and ther seale also. I have sent the chanon home agen 
to Notleye, and have made fast the doores of the cha- 
pell, wiche ys thorowly well covered with ledde: and if 
it be yo' lordeships pleasur I shall se yt made suer to 
the Kings Grace^s use. And if it be nott so orderyd, 
the chapell stondith so wildely that the ledde will be 
stolyn by nyzt, as I wasse servyd at the Fryers ; for as 
soon as I hadde taken the Fryers surrendre, the muL 
tytude of the poverty of the Town resortyd thedyr 
and all thinge that myzt be hadde they stole away : in- 
somyche that they hadde convayd the very clapers of 
the bellys. And saving that M. Fachell, wiche made 
me great chere at hys howse, and the Mayer dydde 
assist me they wolde have made no litell spoyle. In 
thys I have don as moche as I cowde do to save every 
thing to the Kings graces use, as shall apjper to yo^ 
Lordeschippe at the begynn3mg of the terme, Gkxlde 
willing, who w* increse of moche honor long preserve 
yo' gudde Lordeschippe. 

At Redinge xvij** S^tembris. 
At'Caversham ys a propre lodginge^wh^r the cha- 
non lay, with a fayer garden and an orcherd mete to be 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 81 

bestowed upon soto frynde of yo^ lordeschips in thees 
parties ; for the chanon had no thing to do ther butt to 
kepe the chapell and recejrve the offiings. 

I besek your gudde Lordeschippe to admytt me a 
powr sutar for thees honest men of Redinge. They 
have a fayer town ^d many gudde occupiers in y tt ; 
butt they lacke that howse necessary, of the wiche for 
the m3nQystration of Justice thay have most nede of. 
Ther Town HaU ys a very small Howse and stondith 
upon the ryver, wher ys the comm3m wassching place 
of the most part of the Town ; and in the cession dayes 
and other cowrt dayes ther ys such bet3mg with batil- 
dores, as oon man can nott here another, nor the guest 
here the chardg gevyng. The body of the Church of 
the Grey fryers, wiche ys selyd with laths and lyme, 
wold be a very commodoise rowme for them. And now 
I have rydde all the fasschen of that Churche in par- 
closes% ymages, and awlters, it wolde mak a gudly 
Town Hall. The Mayer of that Town, M*^ Richard 
Turner, a very honest jentill person with many other 
honest men hathe expressyd unto me ther gref in thys 
b^alf, and have desyred me to be an humble sutar 
unto your Lordeschippe for the same if it schulde be 
solde. The wallys, besyd the cojme stonys, be butt 
chalk and flynt, and the coveryng butt tile. And if it 
please the King's Grace to bestow that howse upon 
any of hys servants, he may spare the l>ody of the 

• tabernacles. 
VOL. II. Ci 



Sft OSIGINAL LETTERS* 

churche, wich atondith next the strcte, very weU; and 
yet have rowme sufficient for a great man. 

Your most bounden orator 
and servant^ 

JOHN I.OKJ)OK. 



Ths Canventual Chuich oi the Giey Friars, wu gnatod W tho Oai^ 
ration of Reading for a Town Hall in 1543. The Mess^. Lysons say 
that the Corporation *^ having obtained the present Town ^n by Qneen 
Elisabeth's charter in 1560, the Church of the Grey Friais was co«v«rtfd 
into a Hospital or Work House, and aflterwards in 1613, into a House of 
CorrectioD." A part of it was used for the same purpose within these 
few years, if it is not so occupied at present. 



rra ivrni jmh Ums ^ 

LETTER CXXX. 

Elis Price to Lord Cromwell^ to know what he should da 
with the Image ofDarveU Gathem. a. d. 1538. 

[bcs. cottqn.. ci^^op. e. iv. fol. 55 K Orig,\ 



RioHTE Honorable and my syngular goode Loide 
and Mayster, ail circumstauncy s and thankes sett aside^ 
pleasithe yt youre good Lordes^pe to be advertisidy 
that where I was constitute and made, by youre ho- 
norable desire and commaundmente, Cc»mp[ii6sarie ge- 
nerall of the dyosese of Saynte Assapb> I have done 
my dylygens and dutie for the expulsinge and takynge 
awaye of certen abusions, supersticions, and ipocryses^ 



OltlGINAL LETTEKS. S6 

Ufidd within the said diosece of Saynte Assaph, accord- 
ynge to the K3mges honorable actes and injunctions 
therin made. That notwithstondinge there ys an 
Image of Darvellgadarn, within the saide diosece, in 
whome the people have so greate confidence, hope, 
and truste, that they cumme dayly a pillgramage unto 
hym, somme withe kyne, other with oxen or horsis, 
and the reste withe money: in so muche that there 
was fyve or syxe hundrethe pillgrames to a mans esti- 
macitm^ that offered to the saide Image the fifte daie of 
this presente monethe of ApriU. The innocente peo- 
ple hathe heaa. sore aluryd and entisid to worshipe the 
saide Image, in so muche that there is a commyn say- 
inge as yet amongist them that who so ever will offer 
anie thinge to the saide Image of Darvellgadem, he 
hathe power to fatche hym or them that so offers oute 
of Hell when they be dampned. Therfore for the re- 
fiormadon and amendmente of the premisses, I wolde 
gladlie knowe by this berer youre honorable pleasure 
and will ; as knowithe God, who ever preserve youre 
Lordeshipe longe in welthe and honor. Writen in 
Northe Wales the vj. daye of this presente ApriU 

Your bedman and dayelie 
orator by dutie 

ELIS PRICE. 



The further history of the Image of Darvell Oathem is detailed in our 
Chronicles. It was brought to London and burnt with Friar Forest in 
Smithfield. Hall*s accpunt of the cruelty exercised on this occasion is 



84 OltlGINAL LETTERS. 

wmrth traMcribing, though he appears himself to have had no pity ((ft the 
Friar. One is sorry to record, in addition, that the good bishop Latimer 
preached on the occasion. 

« In May" 30*. Hen. VIII. A. D. 1638. " there was a Friar, called 
ftiar Forest, one of the Observant Friars" of Greenwich, " but he might 
have been" says Hall " more truly named an Obstinate Friar. This obs- 
tinate Friar had secretly, in confessions, declared to many of the King's 
subjects that the King was not supreme Head, and being thereof accused 
and apprehended, he was examined how he could say that the King was 
not Supreme Head of the Church, whenhehims^had sworn to the con- 
trary. He answered that he took his oath with the outward man, but his 
inward man never consented thereunto. At this answer the Lords who 
examined him looked very strangely at the dissimulation of the Friar; but 
being further accused of diverse heretical and damnable articles that he held, 
contrary to the Scripture of Ood, he was after sundry examinations con-, 
vinced and confuted, and gladly submittedhimself to abide the punishment 
of the Church. But upon this his submission, having more liberty than 
before he had, as well to talk with whom he would, as also who that would 
to talk with him ; certain such outward men as he was, so talked with him, 
and so incensed him, that the outward Friar was as far from his open sub- 
mission as ever he was, and when his abjuration was sent to him toread and 
look upon, he utterly refused it, and obstinately stood in all his heresies 
and treasons before conspired. All gentle means that were possible to be 
sought for his reconciliation were had, but the more gentler that the Magi- 
strates were to him, the more obstinat was the Friar, and would neither ar- 
gue nor answer : wherfore justly was he condempned ; and after for him 
was prepared, in Smithfelde in London, a gallows on the which he was 
hanged in chaines by the middle and armholes all quickc, and under the 
gallows was made a fire, and he so consumed and brent to death. At his 
coming to the place of execution, there was prepared a great scalfold, on 
which sat the nobles of the realme, and the Kings Majesty's most honor- 
able Council, only to have granted pardon to that wretched creature if any 
spark of repentance would have happened in him. Ther was also prepared 
a pulpit where a right reverend father in Ood and a renoumed and famous 
derk, the bishop of Worcester, called Hugh Latimer, declared to him his 
errors and openly and manifestly by the Saipturc of Ood confuted them, 
and with many and godly exhortations moved him to repentance, but such 
was his fh>wardness that he neither would hear nor speak. 

^^ And a little before the execution, a huge and great Image was brought 
to the gallows, which Image was brought out of Wales, and of the Welsh- 
men much sought and worshipped. This Image was called Daryell Oa» 
THEREK, and the Welshmen had a prophecy that this Image should set a 
whole Forest a fire, which prophecy now took effect, for he set this iHar 



O&ItilNAL LETTERS. 85 

Forest on fire and consumed Mm to nothing. This Friar, when he saw 
the fire come, and that present death was at hand, caught hold upon the 
ladder, which he would not let go, hut so unpaciently took his death, that 
no man that ever put his trust in God never so unquietly nor so ungodlj 
ended his life. If men might judge him by his outward man, he applied 
to have little knowledge of God and his soncere truth, and less trust in him 
at his ending. 

^' Upon the Gallows that he died on, was set up in great letters these 
verses following -: 

David Darvell Oatheren, And Forest the Frier 

As saith the Welshmen* That obstinate Iyer 

Fetched outlawes out of Hell. That wilfully shalbe dead ; 

Now is he come with spere and shilde In his contumacie 

In hames to burn in Smithfdde, . The Oospell doth deny 

Fo/in Wales he may not dwelL , The Kyng to be supreme head." ■ 



LETTER CXXXL 



Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Sir Roger Townshend^ to 
Lord Cromwell^ respecting the intended execution of 
a Frwnr at Norwich^Jbr denying the King's Supre- 
maey, 

[ms. cottok. cleop. e. IV. foL 102. Orig,] 

*^* The burning of Friar Forest, though attended with circumstances 
of such uncommon and refined cruelty, was still thought a master stroke of 
terror : and accordingly another Observant friar of the same Convent, 
who had taken upon him the state and condition of a hermit in Norfolk, 
was laid hold of for the same orime, condemned by the Justices of 
Assize to the same punishment, and the bishop of Norwich requested to 
preach a Sermon to him, while the fire was preparing. All this the Duke 
of Norfolk and Sir Roger Townshend, in their joint Letter which follows, 
trusted '' should be to the King*s Highnesses contentation :*' although, 
even upon their own showing, the friar was acknowledged to be half 
witted, and of small learning. 

• Hall, Chron. edit. 1800. pp. 825j 826. 



h6 OKIGIXAL L£TT£KS. 

My Terie good Lord, with harty recommendadons, 
these shalbe to advertise you that upon Thursday laste 
pa8t^ the Justices of Assize came to me the Duke of 
Norffolk hither to dymier, in ther way rydyng to the 
Assises at Burye, wher they declared unto me that 
one called Anthony Browne, somtyme a fiyer Obser- 
vaunte of Grenewiche, and of late takyng upon hym 
as an hermyte, was accused of Treason, and so com- 
mytted to warde by me Sir Soger Townsend tofore 
the commynge of the said Justices to these parties ; 
and so brought before them to Norwiche did write his 
own confession with his haunde^ wUche ye shall re- 
cey ve with this, Wherupon, for his traytors opinions, 
he was indited of Treason, and so caste and had his 
Judgemente accordynglye, yevyng respyte to the 
Shrjrfe for his execusyon x. dayes fblowjmg ; whiche 
they shewed me the said Duke they ded for this con- 
syderation, whiche was, they thought it convenient 
that a Sermon sholde be made by the bisshopp of 
Norwiche, as was by the bisshopp of Worcestre at 
th^execusyon of Forreste. And in onnmunyng bothe 
with them and the Shryf I perceyved well they had 
herde that som in these partes doubted wheth^ the 
bisshopp here ded thorowly meane weU, consemyng 
the opinions of the said Brown or not. Wherupon I 
asked theropinions^ whether they thought it beste that 
I shold send for the said bisshopp to fele his mynd 

■ their opinions. 



ORIGINAL LfiTTEftS. 87 

afore I sfaold will hym to pteache or not; and also that 
fortusmoche as I ded perce3rvB the said fryei* had not 
be thoroughlye examynd with whome he hathe had 
communication, ayd^, or oomforte in his opinions^ and 
of other thyngs that I shold thynke oonimnitente to 
examjm hym of, whether I wer beste to send for h3rin 
hythet to me or not ; and ther mynds was that I shold 
«aid bothe for the bisshopp and the fryer, and so I ded: 
and b6Cawse that M"^' Townsend is onely of the Eyngs 
Highnes couneell in these parties I sente in lykewise 
for hym to be presente at all the examynacionB. And 
this forenowne we so handled th« said Fryer that W« 
brought hym to this poynte that he wold not styck^ 
upon the auctoryte of the bisshopp of Home tobe 
suppryme Hed of the Churche^ but in no wyse we 
cold bryng hym ttom th'oppinic«l that the Kyng ought 
not tobe suppr^mie Hed of the Churche, sayng thai 
no temperall Prynce was capaa^ of that name and auc- 
torite. I the said Duke had here with me Doctor CaD, 
a gray frier, who handled hym right honestlye in de- 
fendyng the Kyngs Majesties parte aswell by reason 
as scripture : but all that wold not serve : and sythe 
dynner we have be efte sones in hand with hym. And 
in our communyng with hym came hither the fiisshopp 
<rf Norwiche, who undoubtedly by scripture handled 
the UiAii&t of sutche sorte that it was sufficient to have 
tomed th'oppinion of any man that was not yevjoi to 
wilfulnes as this fole is, who in our opinions is smally 



88 OEIGINAL LETTKBS. 

kmed and as litle reasonable ; and suerly , to say the 
tiouthe, the bisdiopp for his parte, and the said Call 
for his, hathe shewed themselffs bothe to be lemed men, 
and trewe subjects to our Ml'* Wherupon oonsyder- 
yng that by no meanes we two can get owt of hym any 
detection of any person to be of counsell with him, 
or of like opinion as he is of, we have delyvered hym 
to the Shr\'f, to be caryed to the gayle, and ther to 
suffer accordyng to his folishe doyngs upcm Fryday 
nexte, affore whose dethe the said bisshopp shall make 
sutche a Sermon as we truste shalbe to the Kyngs 
Highnes contentation, and apparaunte to the people 
(whiche we thynke wolbe ther in great ncnnbre) that 
this unhappy folyshe fryer is well worthy to suffer, and 
that his opinions be faUs and ifhtrewe. My lorde the 
cause of the sendyng of this man in so great haste unto 
you, is, be cause that and the Kyug& majestie and you 
shall thynke it convenient to have hym to be brought 
to the Towre there to be more streyghtlye examjmed 
and to be put to torture. Ye may dispeache this berer 
or som other with commaundemente to the Shryf ac- 
cordyngly; so that the same may be with hym at Nor- 
wiche by Fryday x. a cloke ; for yf ye shold send to 
me the said Duke, I know not yet wher I shold be 
fownd at that t)ane. And thus our Lord have you in 
his tuicion. From Kennyngale this iiij. day of Auguste 
1538 at xj. at nyght. 

■ Master. 



'ORIGINAL LETTEUg. 89 

After writjmg of the premyssis, the Bisshopp was 
desyrous to speke eftsones with the fryer, to th'entente 
he myght have cawsed hym to have tomed his opi- 
nions, not for savegarde or prolong3mg of his lyf, but 
for the welthe of his Soule ; and I sir Roger Town- 
send, be3mg presente, sawe the bisshopp handle hym- 
self very honestlye and clerkely, but notwithstondyng 
that dy vers tymes the said fryer was like to have altred 
his folishe opinions, yet fynallye he persisted in his 
errors. My Lord, we hartly requjrre you that yf it 
shall not be thought to the Kyngs Majestie that any 
Sermon shuld be made before th'execution, to adver- 
tyse the Shryf thei^of afore the tyme before wxyten 

Yo'* assewredly 

• ' *.. T. NORFOLK 

At your Lordshypps comande^ 

BOGLEB TOUNESHEND. 



LETTER CXXXII. 

The Inhabitcmts of the Lordship of Holm Cultram in 
CumberUmd, to Lord Cromwell, entreating Jbr the 
preservation of the Abbey Church there, a. d. 1538. 

[ms. cotton, cleop. e. IV. foL 243 b. Orig^l 

*^* The Cistercian Abbey of Holm Cultram was surrendered to the 
King March 5th. 1538. The Inhabitants of the brdship, it appears, were 
anxious for the preservation of the Abbey Church for a double reason : 
first that they might still have it for their parish church ; and secondly 



90 ORIGINAL LKTTKRS. 

because it was the only building in their nei^boorhood to wfakdl they 
could fly, or where they could defend themselves, in time of invasion from 
the Soots a 



Too the right honorable, ande otor singler good Loide myt 
Lord Prevye Seale. 

MooSTE humbly beeechith your honorable Lord* 
ship, your poore Orators axide Beedemen> beynge eigh- 
tene hundred houselynge people^ in the nombre, thin- 
habitants of Holme Coltrane within the west border 
of the North parties of this Realme of England, that 
it might please your Lordship to be a meane for us to 
our Soyeraign Lorde the Kynge is Highenes for the 
preservacion and standynge of the Churche of Holme 
Coltrane before saide ; whiche is not onelye unto us 
our parish Churche, and little ynoughe to receyve all 
us your poore Orators, but also a grete ayde, socor. 



• The Mess". Lysons, in their Moffna Britnutfa, tnfbnn us that in the County of 
Cumberland, on the borders of Scotland, are some remarkable ecclesiastical edifices. 

The towers of two of these* Newton Arlosh church near the western coast, and 
Burgh on the Sands near the Solway Frith« app^r to have been very strong, and 
capable of affording protection to the inhabitants of the villages for some time, upon 
any sudden invasion from the opposite coast across the Frith. The cattle were pro- 
baUy secured in the bodies of the <Aarohi& 

The description of Newton Arlosh church, built soon after 1S08, shews it to have 
lieen a place of cohsideraUe strength. 

The tower of Burgh on the Sands is still more strongly fortified ; the walls on 
three sides being from six to seven fStet thlok. It has a vMlied ehautar on the 
ground floor, ten feet by eight; the entrance to which is secured by a ponderous 
iron door, six feet ei|^t inches in height : a stone staircase leadii^ to an upper 
chamber. 

The tower of Great Salkeld church i% also stnongly fortified ; and has likewtoe a 
vaulted dbamber on the gmuad floor* at the enttaioe to irhich ttom the have^ is a 
massive grated iron door lined with oak. 

The diur^of Annan in Scotland, on the opposite side of the Sol way Fcith* appears 
to have been as strongly fbrttfled. 

* persons of age loonAimmkiBte at tile altar. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 91 

and defence for us ayenst our neighbors the Scotts, 
withe out the whiche few or none of your Lordshipps 
supplyonts are able to do the King is saide Hieghnes 
our bounden duetye ande service. Ande wee shall 
not onelye praye for his graciouse noble estate, but 
also for your Lordshipps prosperite with increase of 
honor longe to endure. 

Your humble and poore beedemen 
TH^iNHABiTAKTs oftke LordsMp 

^HOLME COLTKAM. 



LETTER CXXXIII. 

John CliLsey to Lord Cromwell, injavor of a Nun of 
Shaftesbury, the natural daughter of Cardinal Wolsey. 

[mi. DOXAT. BRIT. MUS. 4160. p. 11.] 

*«* Tlie name of tfaii dttughter of CardixMl Wolsej has not been handed 
down to us. Roy, in his *■*• Rede me and be not Wrothe,*' ascribes moie 
natural children to him ; and erpressly names one Winter. 

*' Hath he (rfiiidTeii !»y his whoares atool 
Ye, and that full prowdly they go, 

Nainiy one whom I do knowe i 
Which hath of the Churches gOodes clerly 
More than two thoufluid pownde yerly. 

And yett is not content t trowe. 
His name is Master Wintfir* 
To whom my lotde his fother 

Hathe gotten of the Freuche Kyages Grace, 
That when the bishop of Rone 
Out of this lyfe is dedde and gone. 

He shall succede hym in his plaee."* 

Of THOMAg WTKTE&, the peHOD bore alluded to, who waa Dean of 
Wells, archdeacon of Yorl^ and provost of Beverley, a particular account 
will be fftund in Wood's Fasti Oxonienses \ He bad various other pre- 
ferments, but appears to have resigned the greater part upon the Cardinal's 
ft^ in 1529. He kept the archdeaconry of York till 1540. Fiddes has 

• Sign. d. ij. '» Wood, Ath. Ox. 1«» edit. voL i. p. 673. 



9S ORIGINAL LETXEUS. 

printed Uie Grant of a Coat of Arms to him by Sir Thomas Wriothesky, 
Gartor, in 1526, the component parts of which axe evidently taken from 
Wolsey's 

Reginald Pole, afterwaids Cardinal and Ajrchbishop of Canterbury, was 
sent at King Henry the £ighth*8 expence, to complete his studies at Pa- 
dua, whither Wynter accompanied him as a fellow student and companion. 
Pole wrote to the King, and Wynter to Qromwell, to give an account of 
their arrival and first settlement there. The Letters, both in Latin, axe 
preserved in the Cottonian Collection \ 

The thirty-eighth of the Articles exhibited in Parliament against Wol- 
sey, speaks of two natural children which the Cardinal had had by the 
daughter of one Lark : 

*'*' xxxviii. Also, the said Lord Cardinal did call before him Six John 
Stanley Knight, which had taken a farm by Convent-Seal of the abbat 
and Convent of Chester ; and afterwards, by his power and mi^t, con- 
trary to right, committed the said Sir John Stanley to the prison of Fleet 
by the space of one year, unto such time as he compelled the said Sir John 
to release his Convent- Seal to one Leghe of Adlington, which manied 
one Lark's daughter, which woman the said Lord Cardinal kept, and had 
nith her two cbilbben : whereupon the said Sir John Stanley, upon 
displeasure taken in his heart, made himself monk in Westminster and 
there died." 



Rygthe honorable, after most humyll comenda- 
cyons, I lykewyce besuche you that the Contents of 
this my symple Letter may be secret; and that foras- 
myche as I have grete cause to goo home, I besuche 
your good Mastershipe to comand M^ Herytag to 
give attendans opon your Mastershipe for the know- 
lege off youre plesure in the seyd secrete mater, whiche 
ys this, My Lord Cardinall causyd me to put a yong 
gentyll homan to the Monystery and Nunry off 
Shayfftysbyry, and there tobe provessyd, and wold hur 
to be namyd my doythter ; and the troythe ys shew* 

• Fiddes, Life of Wolsey, Collect, p. 182. 

i» MS. Cotton. Nero b. vL foil. 118, 133. Other Letters of Wyuter occur, n^d. fol« 
108. Nero b. vii. fol. 182. and Titus b. i. fol. 890. 
c she. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 93 

was his dowythter ; and now by your Visitacyon she 

haythe commawynment to departe, and knowythe not 

whether^ Wherefore I humely besuche youre Master- 

shipe to dyrect your Letter to the Abbas there, that 

she may there contjmu at hur full age to be professed. 

Withoute dowyte she ys other xxiiij. yere full, or 

shalbe at shuche t)ane of the here^ as she was boren, 

which was a bowyte Myclelmas. In this your doyng 

your Mastershipe shall do a very charitable ded, and 

also bynd hur and me to do you such servyce as 

lyzthe in owre lytell powers ; as knowythe owre Lord 

Grod whome I humely besuche prosperyusly and 

longe to preserve you. 

Your orator 

JOHN CLUSEY. 

To the right honorabull 

and his most especiall 

good Master^ Master Cromwell 
Secretary to our good Lord the Kyng. 



LETTER CXXXIV. 

John Freema/n to Lord Cromwell, upon the unnecessary 
and wrdawfuljees grcmted to various persons upon 
the Surrender of the Monasteries, 

[M8. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 394. OrigJ] 



Yt may pies your good lordshipe to understond, that 
in the mak3aige of this half yeres resaite in Lincoln- 

• whither. * year. 



94 OKIGINAL LETTERS. 

shier, I well parsay ve of the gyvyn owte of late, not onl j 
there, but also throwgh owte the reahne, thies super- 
fluus feesgyyen by the late surrenderd Howses; whiche 
fiees be gy ven in three sortes. The fiirst to Bailies, ho» 
hath for smale someB resay ving large fees ; and where 
they have made a dosen, ome war sufficient. Secondlye, 
they have gyven to generall ResayT(H*s greater fees, 
whiche sorte shall never resayve no money; for the 
particuler bailies doth gather the rentes and so brynges 
it to the Kjmges Resay vor, who stondes charged with 
the same. And the thirde sorte haith their fees to be 
aceounseill'' with the Howse, and yet the greatest nom- 
ber of theym hath no lem3mge. Inded they gave 
counsell to th'abbot to gyve theym a Covent seale to 
robe*^ the Kinge of part of his Revenues ; wherfore me 
thinke they might lawfully at this Parliament be call- 
ed in agane, and the Kings Highnes shuld resale ther- 
bye within his realme iij. or foure thowsand markes by 
the least yerly. And further as consamynge the Kings 
leade within his realme, yf it wold pies his Grace to 
make sales therof it shuld tume hym to a great prof- 
fite. Their be merchantes within his realme^ I thiidi^e 
a great sorte, wold gyve hym iiij''. for a foder, and 
fynd his Grace suerties sufficient to be pad y«Jy one 
porcion therof, whiche I thinke wold be no lees than 
XX M^'. a yere for the space of foure yeres, whiche war*^ 
a goodlye payment; asdyetor the failure yeres war ^ex- 
pired their wold every fbder be worthe to the Kinge 

who. >> of couiuell. «rd^ ^ were. 



ORIGINAL L£TTBR8. 95 

XX. nobles, considering the eostome in and owte. And 
further I thinke that c.M' of his pore Sugetes shuld 
be benefite takers of their retoms whither it war* in 
money or in ware. And also the yeres beynge expired, 
it wold qwyken well agane one of the commodities of 
his reahne that nowe is ded, whiche is the Myndes^ 
of his leade. Yt may pies you to consider that and 
yf other owtward pr}mces wold take apon theym to 
redres their idell, fayned religiouse Howses, as the 
Kinges Highnes hath done, as I mystrust not but and 
their powers war accordinge as the Kings was and is 
they wolde so do, and than shall they have suche 
abundance of lead of suche like bowses that they woll 
than sett litell by ours. Besechinge your lordship for 
my foUyshe oppynyon, so boldlye to you to write of, 
that ye wold take with me no displeasure. And thus 
I remayn your pore man. From Lowthe the xV' day 
of May. 

Yours 

JOHN FREMAN* 

To the right honorable and his singuler 
good Lord my Lord Prevy Scale, be this yeven. 

• w«re. i> mines. 



96 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CXXXV. 

Robert Warner to Robert Rcdcliff Lord FiizwaUer: a 
Letter of Intelligence Jrom Court, 

[M8. cotton. TIB. B. I. foL 140. Ofig»] 

*«* Henry Courtney marquis of Exeter, Henry Pole lord Montacute, 
and Sir Edward Nevil brother to the lord Abergavenny, mentioned in the 
first part of the following Letter, were arrested on November the S*'. 1538 ; 
and are stated to have been accused of treason by Sir Geoffrey Pole the 
brother of the lord Montacute, who had confederated with them. They 
were indicted for devising to maintain, promote, and advance R^inald 
Pole the younger brother of Sir Geoffrey, afterwards known as Cardinal 
Pole, and to deprive the King. The continuator of D**. Henry's History 
conjectures that they were suspected of a design to raise Reginald Pole to 
the throne by a marriage with ^e Princess Mary, for which, he says, they 
would have easily obtained a dispensation from the Pope. 

On the last of December 1538, the marquis of Exeter and the Lord 
Montacute were arraigned at Westminster ; three days after which Sir 
Edward Nevil and Sir Geoi&ey Pole were arraigned, with some inferior 
persons. All were condemned. The Marquis of Exeter, Lord Monta- 
cute, and Sir Edward Nevil were beheaded on Tower hill January 9^. 
1539. Sir Geoffrey Pole was pardoned. 

Margaret Countess of Salisbury, and Gertrude marchioness of Exeter, 
stated to be already in prison in the Letter, were attainted by Parliament 
April 28th. 1539. Upon this condemnation only, the Countess of Salis- 
bury was beheaded in the Tower, with circumstances of peculiar cruelty. 
May 27^« 1541. The marchioness of Exeter was not executed. Her 
attainder was reversed in the 1^^ of Queen Mary, as was Reginald Pole's 
in the 1 &. 2 PhiL and Mary. 



After my duty remembred to your good lordshipe, 
this shalbe to advertyse yow of suche newes as be now 
at London. Whiche ys that upon Monday was for- 
nyght thCT was hade, to the Tower of London, the 
lorde Marques of Exceter, the lorde Montagwe, and 
the next day after whas hade thether Sir Edwarde 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 97 

Newell*; and as the voyse goythe they are all lyke to 
suffer deth ; and also Sir Geffery Polle who was in the 
Tower beffore, as I do perceve y t shuldbe for my 
lorde Montagwes brother, whiche ys beyonde the see 
with the bysshoppe of Rome, and ys a harrant tray- 
tor to the Kyngs heynes : and be some words that I 
here spokyn they wolde a made** a fowle worke in In- 
glonde as ever whas herd of. My lady Marques ys 
in the tower, and my lady of Salysbery ys in holde, 
as I herde my lorde say, but where I cann not tell: 
but ther ys lyke to be a fowle worke among them. 

Leve we of that matter, and to shew ypw of the 
Kyngs Grace, who remowyde from Westminster the 
Twysday the xix*^ day of November, and, thankyd to 
be Gk)d, was never meryer. And the Wedynsday 
beffore, he made a bankett to certayn Lordes and La- 
dyes, whiche was fyrst the Ducke of Suffolke and 
my lady hys wyff, my lorde my maister and my lady, 
the Erie of Herthfforde and hys wyff, and my lady 
Lylle% wyth other, mayds, whiche were the Queues 
women ; and ther they leye all nyght in the cort, and 
ther chambers gorgeously drest, and every one hade 
banketts in there chambers, and the Kyng^s servants 
to wayte upon them : and the next day they taryed 
ther dyner, and after the K3mg shewyd them all the 
pleasurs of hys howse whiche duryd tyll yt was fower 
of the cloke ; and then they departyde and whent ther 

• Nevil. k have made. " Lisle. 

VOL. II. H 



98 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

waye. Thus they left the King for that tyme; and 
the Monday next after, the Kyng'^s Grace made all 
the Lords of hys Prevy Councell to dyne ¥^th hytn in 
hys bankatyng chamber, and was very mery amonge 
them ; And, as I sayde, the next day after he went to 
tiampton Court, and ther wyll remayne tyll within a 
lettd of Crystmas, and so come to Grenwyche and 
kepe his Crystmas ther. And, my L(M*de^ to wryt of 
any Queue, ther ys smale spekyng of any^ ^t that 
ther ys a voyce that yt shulde be the Duohys of Myl- 
layn. But ye shall take yt as a wynde. But yett I 
thynke yt shalbe an outlandyishe woisian, whom so ever 
yt shall happyn, whiche I thynke shalbe about the 
q)ryng oi the lefe. 

Yo^ pore bedman 
Att LcHidon the eobeet warner. 

xxj. day of November. 

To the Ryght honorable lorde 
the Lorde fltzWster 
this ht ddy vcQrde. 



LETTER CXXXVI. 
John Lord RusseU^ to Lord Cromwell^ respecting the 
trial and execiUum of the Abbat and two Monks ^ 
Glastonbury, 

[hs. cotton, cleop. e. IV. foL 99 Ih Oriff^ 

iliGHT honourable and my verry good Lorde, pleas^ 
yth youre lordeshipp io be advertised, that I have re- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 99 

ceyTcd youre Lettres dated the xij*.^ daye of this pre- 
sent ; and understond by the same youre lordeshipps 
greate goodnes towardes my friende the Abbott off 
Peterborough, for whome I haVe ben ofte bold to 
wiyte unto youre good lord^shipp*^ ; mo&te hartely 
thankynge y(f lorderiiipp for that and all other youre 
goodnes that I have founde at ydure good lordeshipps 
handes : even so, desimng you toy larde longe to eon- 

I 

tynew in the same. My l<Mrde thies shalbe to asser- 
teyne, that on Thursdaye the xiiij?^ daye of this pre- 
sent moneth the Abbott of Gkstonburye was strrayn- 
ed, and the n^t daye putt to execucyon with ij. other 
of his monkes, for the robb3mg of Glastonburyc 
Churche, on the torre hyll 'next unto the towne of 
Glaston ; the seyde Abbotts body beyng devyded in 
fower parts, and heed stryken off^ wbepeof oone quar- 
ter stondythe at Welles, a nother at bathe, and at Yl- 
chester and Brigewater the rest. And his hedd uppon 
the Abbey gate at Glaston. And as concemyng the 
rape and burglary commytted, those parties are all 
condempned, and fowar of thejrm putt to execucyon 
at the place of the act don, whiche is called the were ; 
and there adjudged to hange styll in chaynes to th^en- 
sample of others. As for Capon, oone of the seyde 
bifenders condempned, I have repried according to 
yo^ Lordeshipp's letters; of whome I shall further show 
unto you at my next repayre unto the Courte. And 

. * 

> John Bfirowe, or Burgh, aliai Chambers, was the I&st Abbat and first Bishop of 



100 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

here I do sende yo^ lordeshipp, enclosed, the names 
of th^enquest that passed on Whyt3mg the seid abbott : 
whiche I ensure you my lorde is as worsshipfuU a ju- 
rye as was charged here thies many yeres. And there 
was never scene in thies parts so greate apparaunce 
as were here at this present tyme, and nevei* better 
wyllyng to serve the Kyng. My Lorde I ensure you 
there were many bylles putt upp ageynst the abbott 
by his tenaunts and others, for wronges and injuryes 
that he hadd donne theym. And I commytt yo*^ good 
lordeshipp to the keap}mg of the blessed Trynyte. 
From Welles the xvj*^ daye of Novembre. 

Your owen to commande 

J. RUSSELL. 



LETTER CXXXVII. 

Thomas Lord Cromwell to the Earl of Chester, Jbr the 

extirpation of Gipsies. 

[ms. cotton. TIB. B. I. foL 407. Orig,] 

*0* The first appearance of the (Hpsies in Europe seems to have heen 
in Gkrmany, about the beginning of the sixteenth Century; whence they 
migrated to the different surrounding States, and gaining proselytes in pro- 
digious numbers, betook themselves to the arts of chiromancy, begging, 
and pilfering, by which they seem to have been distinguished every where ; 
retaining for themselves also a peculiar language. They were scarcely 
known, before they became troublesome to every country in which they 
sojourned. 

In England, by Stat. 22. Hen. VIIL chap. x. they are described as ^' an 
*•*• outlandish people calling themselves Bgjrptians, using no crafte nor feate 
*'*' of merchandize, who have come into this realm and gone from shire to 
*•*• shire, and place to place, in great company, and used great, subtle, and 
^' crafty means to deceive people, bearing them in hand that they by palm- 



ORIGINAL LETTEftS/.-. 101 

" /:• •• 

^ €stry could teUmen-and women^s fortunes :** where&c^4lfey art'directed 
to avoid the realm, under pain ^' of imprisonment and forfeitur&of gQpd^^' 
sixteen days being allowed for their avoidance after the prodam^tj^.^f , 
the Statute. 

The inefficiency of this Act in operation, gave rise to severer measures,* 
as will be seen in the following Letter. 

It was afterwards enacted by Stat 1 and 2 Ph. &, Mary, chap. iv^. and 
again, Stat 5 Eliz. chap. xx. that if any suchpersons should be imported into 
the Kingdom, die importers should forfeit Itorty pounds. And if the Egyp- 
tians themselves remained one month in the Idngdom, or if any person 
being fourteen years old, whether natural-bom subject or stranger, who 
had been seen or found In the fellowship of such Egyptians, or who had 
disguised Imn or herself like them, should remain in the same one month 
at one or several times, it should be felony without benefit of clergy. 

Sir Matthew Hale informs us that at one of the SufiR)lk assizes, no less 
than thirteen persons were executed upon these latter statutes a few yean 
before the restoration. Some others were executed at Stafford a short 
time after tLs restoration. 

The Gipsies were repelled from France in 1560 ; and 6rom Spain in 
1691. 

In Scodand these people seem to have enjoyed some share of indul- 
gence. Brand, in his Popular Antiquities, quotes Writs of Privy Seal of 
the years 1553, 1554, and 1594, respecting privileges in that country 
granted to John Faw, or Fall, who is called Lord and Earl of Little 
Egypt, But there is an earlier entry relating to them in the Privy Seal 
Book, No xiv. fol. 59. *•*• Letters of Defence and Concurrence to John Fall 
Lord and Earl of Little Egjrpt, for assisting him in the execution of 
Justice upon his Company, conform to the Laws of Egypt 15^^. Feb. 
1540.- 



Aftek my right hartie commendation& Whereas 
the Kings Maiestie^ about a twelfmoneth past, gave a 
pardonne to a company of lewde*personnes within this 
realme calling themselves Gipcyans, for a most sham- 
full and detestable murder commytted amongs them, 
with a speceall proviso inserted by their owne con- 
sents, that onles they shuld all avqyde this his Graces 
realme by a certeyn daye long sythens expired, yt 

• ignorant* unlearned. 



• - • 



• • • • • 



• • • • 

• • • m 



lOlS .*'• VR'tGINAL LETTERS. 

.. ..',•• 

• •. I ' 

shuld V lirwfiill to all his Graces ofFycers to hang 
,tl)(!^*m''all places of his realme, where they myght 
bfe 'apprehended, without any further examynacion or 
tryal after forme of the lawe, as in their letter patents 
of the said pardon is expressed. His Grace, hering 
tell that they doo yet lynger here within his realme, 
not avoyding the same according to his commaunde- 
ment and their owne promes, and that albeit his poore 
subjectes be dayly spoyled, robbed, and deceyved by 
them, yet his Highnes officers and Ministres lytle re- 
garding their dieuties towards his Majestye, do permyt 
them to lynger and loyter in all partys, and to exer- 
cise all their falshods, felonyes, and treasons unpu. 
nished, hathe commaunded me to sygnifye unto youe, 
and the Shires next adjoynyng, whether any of the sayd 
personnes calling themselfes Egipcyans, or that hathe 
heretofore called themselfes Egipcyans, shall fortune to 
enter or travayle in the same. And in cace youe shall 
here or knowe of any suche, be they men or women, 
that ye shall compell them to depart to the next porte 
of the See to the place where they shalbe taken, and 
ey ther wythout delaye uppon the first wynde that may 
conveye them into any parte of beyond the Sees, to 
take shipping and to passe in to owtward partyes, or 
if they shall in any wise breke that commaimdement, 
without any tract* to see them executed according to 
the Kings Hieghnes sayd Lettres patents remaynyng 
of Recorde in his Chauncery which, with these, shalbe 

• stay, hesitation. 



ORIGINAL LKTTK&S. 103 

your discharge in that behaulf : not fay ling t^accom^ 
pUshe the tenor hereof nvith all effect aad diligence^ 
without sparing uppon any Commyssion, Licence, or 
Placarde that they may shewe or aledge for themselfes 
to the contrary, as ye tender his Graces pleasor which 
also ys that youe shall gyve notyce to all the Jus* 
tices of Peax in that Countye where youe resyde, and 
the Shires adjoynant, that they may accomplishe the 
tenor hereof accordingly. Thus fare ye hertely wel ; 
From the Neate the v? day of December the xxix^ 
yer of his Ma^^ most noble Regne 
N Yo*" louyng ffreend 

TnOMAS CRUMWELIo 

To ray verye good Lorde my Lorde 
of Chestre President of the Mar- 
ches of Wales. 



LETTER CXXXVIII. 

King James V^ qfScoiUmd to Sir Thomas Wharton^ 
m answer to his Complaints against certain scurri^ 
lous Ballads, a. n. 1538. 

[ms. cottox. calig. b. III. fol. 191. Orig,] 



Weilbelovid firende we gret zou well. And for- 
samekle as we haven considerate be zour Vrytinges, 
sic Ballats and buks of Diffamatioim as ze allege ar 
maid be our legis to the displesoure of our derrest un- 



104 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

cle, quhairof we ar ry^ miscontentit gif sua beis ; and 
has presentlie directit scharpe charges to all partis of 
our bordours to defend sic thingis to be usit be ony 
oure liegis, and to get knawlege of the auctors of it 
ze wryt is done to the intent that thai may be pu- 
nyschit for their demerits as accords. Bot because 
we never hard of sic thingis of befoir, we suspect rather 
the samyn to be imaginate and devisit be sum of zour 
awin natioun, and ^gis of our derrest uncUs. For- 
ther in this behalfe we have gevin charge to the Lord 
Maxwell Warden of our West Merches, as he will 
schaw Z0U9 quhame God conserve. At our Palace of 
Linly^g"^ the last Day of Januar. 

James R. 

To our weilbilovit Schir 
Thomas Warthoun Wardane of the West 
Marchis of Ingland foranent Scotland. 



LETTER CXXXIX. 

Thomas WyUtighby to Lord Cromwell^ cofmernmg his 
proceedi/ngs agamst the Rebels in the West. a. d. 
1589. 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 381. Orig,'\ 



Yt maie like yo' honorable and good Lordshipe to 
be advertysyd, I have according to the Kyng^s highe 
and severaJl Commyssyons ben in Hampshire, Wj^l- 
jschire, Dorsett, Somerset, Devonshire, and Come- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. l05 

wall; and those that hath ben OfFendours of high 
treason and indytyd befor me and other of the Kings 
Ck)inmyssioners wer fownde gyltie upon good and sub- 
staunciall evidence : and hathe hade t];ieir Judgments, 
and sufferyd according to their demeretts and offencys. 
The gret and highe Offendours to the Kings good 
grace were in Comewall, whose named were William 
Kendall and one Quyntrell, as errant traytours as anie 
were within the Realme of Inglonde, who lenyd and 
favouryd asmuche to the avauncement and setting 
forthe of that traytour Henrie late Marques of Ex- 
ceter, that hys ungracius and traitorus purpose myghte 
take effecte, not letting ne sparing to speke to a gret 
nombre of the Kings subjects in these parties that the 
said Henrie was heire apparaunte and shuld be Kyng, 
and wolde be King, yf the Kyngs Highnes procedyd 
to marrie the Ladie Anne Bollen : or ells it shuld cost 
a thowsand mennys lives. And for their myschevus 
entent to take effecte, the same Kendall and Quyn- 
trell unlawfullie retaynyd d3rverse and a gret nombre 
of the Kings subjects in those parties to be towards 
the lorde Marques, to be in a redynes within an howers 
wamyng, puttyng in their hedds and harts that the 
said Marques shuld be the man that shuld helpe them 
and do them good, saying also to them see the expe- 
ryence how all thei do prevayle that were towards 
the said Marques: for nother Assyses, Nisi prius, 
nother Bill of Indytment put up agenst them colde 
take eifecte : and, of the contrary parte how it pre- 



106 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

vailyd for them. Morover my good Lorde it apperyd 
by evydenoe given agenst them that certajrne other 
persones, whose names thys berer shall enforme yo' 
lordschipe, wer confederate, and in effecte of like opi- 
nyon with them. And those that were present in the 
Court I dyd comyt them to warde, and have bownd 
them by good substancial suertes, by recognysaunce, 
to apper at y^ next Assise to be holden in the Countie 
of Comewall. And as for willfull murd^^ heynous 
robberies, and other offeneys of felonies, dyverse and 
manie have sufferyd : besydes suche as hathe su£^ryd 
punnyshment of the piUorie for their sedycyus, ob- 
probrius, and slaunderus wordes agenst the Kings 
Grace and hys honorable Cownsell. And I assure yow 
my Lorde in every of those same Shires ther hath ben 
a gret apparanee of gentillmen and men of woorschipe, 
who hath endevoryd themselffs with muche dylygence 
in executing the Kings precepts and commawndments. 
And thus am I bold to asserten yo' good Lordshipe 
of the state of those Shires. And thus our Lorde 
have your good Lordshipe in his tuycyon and govem- 
aunce. Written thys xvj. daie of Marche. 

At yo' commandement 

THOMAS WYLLVGHBY. 

To the righte honorable 
ftnd my singuler good 
Lord my Lorde Privie 
Seall be thys 
dd. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107 

LETTER CXL. 

WiUiam Petvmson to 

[m8. cottok. visp. c. XIV. fi)L 79. Orig,] 

*«* The date of the following Letter is fixed by the mention of the 
two nwiiiagesof Jontes the Fifth of Scotland. 

James was married to Madeleine, the daughter of Francis the First of 
France, January the l**. 1537, in die Church of Notre Dame at Paris. 
They did not, however, arrive at Leith till the 5^. of May : forty days 
after which, on July 5th. Madeleine died in a decline. 

3f ary of Guise, daughter of the duke of that name, and widow of the 
Duke de JionguevlUe, the second wife of James the Fifth, arrived at 
Balcomie in Fife June IQ^^ 1538. She was the mother of Mary Queen 
of Soots. 

The Lady Motrell, it will be seen, to whose reception in London, when 
upon her return to France, this Letter chiefly relates, was in the suite of 
Queen Madddne. 



Right honorable and my singulier good Lord, as 
louly as I can I commend me unto your Lordeship ; 
yestemyght, sowne after vj. of the clocke I delyvered 
your Lettre to my Lorde Mayre, after the sight where- 
of he hath d^termyned this momyng at ix. of the clock 
to present to my Lady of Motrell thise parcells ; furst, 
of greate piks, x ; carpes, x ; greate eles fresh, x ; a 
pqrcion of fresh saulmon and sturgion, and a certejme 
quantitie of tenches and breames, and of all such other 
good fyshes as can be gotton ; of sugar loves x ; of 
torches x ; of white wyne and claret, during of the 
tjrme of her abyding, plentye, to be sent at dyners and 
souppers in flagons, in consideration that and yf it 
should be sent in hogesheds it would be unfyned and 



108 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 

not mete to be dronke so sowne. As touching theyre 
lodging at my lorde Mayres, he is right sory that he 
cannott provyde theym, by reason Sainct Barthihnewe 
day is so nygh at hand, where as then he shall not only 
have resorte of sueters of the Citie, but in likewise of 
straungers; notwithstanding in case they shall have 
nede of lodging, we shall provyde this day one mjrte* 
and convenient for her on Sonday next com3n:ig. My 
lorde Mayre intendeth to make a dynner for her, her 
ladyes, and trayne ; where also shalbe th^ Ambassador 
of Fraunce ; where there shalbe plentye of all meats 
and drynks, with like interteanyng. These things thus 
establysshed, I thought to delay no tyme ; wherfore I 
went to visite the said Lady, whom I tooke up rysing 
sowne after her soupper ; then accordingly imto your 
Lordeshipps commandement with such wont and ac- 
coustumed salutacions behoving unto such personaiges, 
I saluted her, of the which she was right joyous, gyv- 
ing infinite thanks unto the Kyngs Majeste, that he 
being so noble and myghtie Prynce woulde of his good^ 
nesse w^save^ to send to visite her, so infime and lowe 
a personaige: neverthelesse she said his Grace hath 
sent imto her, which hath evermore borne hym faith- 
full obeisance and servitude. After this communyon 
famyliarly, she brought me unto her chamber with all 
her Ladyes and gentilwomen, to the nombre of viij. 
or ix. amongst the whfch was my Lady Browne and 

* meet. b voucbsafe* 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 109 

another lady which sometyme was wyfiF to one of the 
Fraich Kyngs carvers, and amongst the said gentil- 
women there was one or two indiferent faire. And thus 
still being in communication, amongst other things, 
she dyd show me of her contynuance in Scotland, and 
howie that she hath remajmed there by the French Kjmgs 
appoinctement sence she brought thether the Queue 
that last dyed ; after whose death she informed me of 
h§T good chere there in meate and drynke, which was 
not exeding. And that she had not the sight of the 
K3mg untill the tyme of the commjmg of the last 
Quene, nor no greate resorte of gentilmen, nor none 
other passetyme worthy of rehersaile. The old Quene 
had no good dayes after her arry val ther, but alwayes 
sikely with a catarr which descended into her stomac, 
which was the cause of her deth. So fourth passing, 
in taulking, I demaunded howe this Quene liked Scot- 
land, and she aunswered that she looved Fraunce 
better; uppon the which pourposse she somewhat 
smyled. So from that thing taking the recourse to 
other, she of herselve began greately to prayse the 
finytfiilnesse, fayrenesse, and playsauntnesse of Ing- 
lond, with the civilitie of the men ; wher uppon she be- 
gan furst to showe howe as yesterday she went to sport 
her to Chelsey with th^ Ambassador of Fraunce ; and 
how at her return she came to Brydewell, where like- 
wise she showed me how the said ambassador had 



110 ORIGINAL LETTKE8. 

showed her the whole House which she commends 
above all other that ever she sawe. Moreover she said 
that the said ambassador had promest her that she 
should see York Place, far fairer ; and for that intent 
he would send to the keeper of the same : showing 
herself greatly desirous to see it. And so in the 
ende of our communication she showed me that upon 
Monday next she entends to take her journey toward 
France. Howbeit she sayd that she had Recom- 
mendations from the Quene of Scotts to the Kyng's 
Highnesse, if she might arryve nigh where his Ghraoe 
were. And at my taking of my leve I found faulte of 
her lodging, saing it to be very little for her and her 
trayne : wherfore if she pleased she should be pn>- 
vyded of another howsse more easear, for the King^s 
pleasor was that she should have as gret commoditie 
here, within this his Realme, as she were in hex owne 
natyf cantrye. Then with great thanks die made me 
this aunswar, saing that all her gentilwoinen were 
lodged within, her and her tra3me abowte her, circomr 
vicin ynough; and that fcN- so litle a space she b^ 
tended not to remeve. And thus I tooke my leve^ 
presuposing to be this momyng with my Lgrd Mayre, 
and to determ3m a lodging few her^ and at after dynaer 
to resOTte unto her agayne and see if ^e ht odierwyse 
mj^Mied. And thus in the meane tyme it may please 
your Lordeship to send by this bener your fourther 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill 

pleflflour. With thys, Jesu preserve your Lordeship 
with long ly ff and increase of honor. From London 
the xxiiij*** day of August. 

Alwayes redy at your Lordeshipps 

comaundement 

WILLIAM PENNISON. 



LETTER CXLI. 

Joha Foster a priest, to Lord Cromwell, ttpon his obe^ 
dience to the Kvag, in putting away a wife whom he 
had married. 

[hs. cotton, cleop. e. IV. foL 116 b. Orig,^ 

*^* The Letter here presented, was evidently written immediately 
after the Parliament of 1539 had passed the Act of «^ The Six Articles ;*' 
more ntually called «« The Bloody Act*' 

A notion had gone forth that Priests might marry, and numbers of the 
dogy had seized the opportunity of choocdng fbr themselves a helpmate, 
inthout dieaming that ihey sho^d subsequently Inoor a penalty of the 
severest kind. Even Cranmer had taken to wife the niece of Osiander, 
an eminent divine of Nuremberg. 

Cranmer, with all quietness, sent his wife back at once to Genmany. 
But JoHV Foster, who moved in a lower rank of the priesthood, the 
writer of the present Letter, not only dismissed his wife to her friends at 
Ae distaniie of three score miles, but hastened to the Vicaiv.gencra], con- 
fessed how ill he had understood the word of God, complimented his 
Mifesty's matt erudite judgement, and sued fat die rojral pardon. 



Ik my most humblyst wyse, I beyng not so bold as 
to af^po'e before youre I^rdshyp untyll your plesure 



112 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ys knowyn, feere sett appartt, nede compellythe me to 
ivrytt. Thys last Lentt I dyd no lesse then wrytt, 
and also to your presence I dyd approche, suyng for 
your lordschyppys gracious servyce ; but now my sute 
ys muche other, for my dysfortune hathe byn to have 
caaceyvjd untruly Goddys worde, and not only with 
yntellectyon to have thought yt, but exteryally and 
really I have fulfyllyd the same ; for I, as then beyng 
a preste, have accompleschyd maryage ; nothyng pre- 
tendyng but as an obedyentt subyect. For yf the 
Kyngp Grace could have founde yt lawfull that 
prestys mught have byn maryd, they wold have byn 
to the Crowne dubbyll and dubbyll faythefull, fiirst 
in love, secondly for fere that the Bysshope of Rome 
schuld sette yn hys powre unto ther desolacyon. But 
now by the noyse of the peopuU I perseyve I have 
dunne amysce, which saythe that the Kyngy seru- 
dyte yugementt with all hys cowncell temperall and 
spyrytuall hathe stableschyd a contrary order, that 
all prestys schalbe separat by a day ; with which or- 
der I have contentyd my selfe : and as sone as I herd 
it to be tru, I sentt the woman to her frendys iij. score 
mylys from me, and spedely and with all celeryte I 
have resorted hether to desyre the Kyngs Hyghtnes of 
hys favor and absolucyon for my amysce do)n[ig ; prayng 
and besechyng your Lordschypps gracyous cumfortt 
for the optaynyng of hys gracyous pardon : and I 
schalbe your bounden servauntt yn hartt and also yn 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. lid 

contynnuall servyse yf yt schall please your gracyous 
lordschypp to accept yt duryng my lyfe : wrythyn the 
xviij. day of June. 

Your bounden for ever, 

JOHN FOSTER. 



LETTER CXLII. 

Sir Thomas Ehfot to Secretary Cromwell. 

[ms. cottok. tit. b. I. f^l. 371* Orig.] 

^«* The following Letter furnishes a valuable Supplement to the 
lilemoirs of Sir Thomas Elyot, supplied by our biographers. It ex- 
plains, moreover, that the Life of a Ck>urtier in the time of Henry the 
Eighth was not always one of unalloyed success. During Wcdsey's ad^ 
ministration, indeed, few but churchmen wtire amply rewarded. Ever 
Sir Thomas More, we have seen, when Speaker of the House of Commons 
was more than ordinaiily gprateful for a hundred pounds. 

None of the Writers who mention Sir Thomas Elyot*s promotions, 
notice his having held the clerkship of the CoundL 

He appears to have been courted and celebrated by the most learned 
men of his time. His chief works were his ^' Qovemor" and his 
^' Dictionary.*' A copy of the latter, foL Berthdet, 1538, is extant in 
the library of the BiAtish Museum. It was originally Lord Cromwell's 
copy, to whoiQ a;l«fttin letter is addressed upon a blank leaf at the be- 
ginning, in Sir^Th^nnas Elyot's hand. It afterwards passed into the 
Lifaraor pf-King Henry the Eighth. 

Sir TlibQaiui Elyot died in 1546, and was bUried at Carleton in Cam- 
bridgc«itbe. 



Right worsMpfull I recommend me unto you ; and 
hartily thanke you for your gentill and wyse adver- 
tisements and counsayles gyyen unto me in your Let- 

VOL. II. 1 



"4 



114 OBIGIlfAL L£TTAAft. 

Ires which I lec&jnr jd o£ mj kyv jng fv^id^ IC^ Rayi^ 
ibrd. Albeit, Sir, wliaa ye ahfllL fcjiov^ aH th^ occa- 
syons of my discomforte, ye will not saiB^che btoni^ 
me as pitie me^ if your olda^^ gentill nature be not 
chaung^d. M^ Cromwell I knowe well howe moche 
my dutie is to serve my soveraign lorde truely and di- 
Bgently, which, God is my judge, I have doone to my 
powar with as good a wille, and as gladly, as any man 
could ymagine to doo : vfithee for myne obedience 
only, nor for hope of promocion, but for very harty 
love that I bare, and doo bere to the Eing'^s Highnesse 
besydes myn aleagesnce, th^-to moved by the in- 
comparable goode qualities bothe of \x^ perspaa and 
witte, which I have longe wondred at and lovid ; as 
is my nature to doo in private peiisoiiefa^ mocha nK)jre 
in Princes, moste of all in the chief GovenuH- of this 
Roiahn and my soveroigne Lorde and Master* But 
whan I consyder i^yn u^eliqitie and losse of tyiQe in 
unprofitable stu(fy, wilt I (»ri!io, I am ii^c^^oedi to be 
cruciate in my poure mynde^ which I eonfease to be 
for lak of wisedom, but I have ben to little a tyme 
studious ii^ jduleaophy. I suppose ye beiBg. weiy (^ 
my longe bablyn^ tary to here the infeUcitie tihat I , 
complayne me of. I pray you than take somcpnt^^Me 
to here some part of my ^^t 

Some after the decese di verf pcun^fiidDteir, the Imde 
that I BOW h«rre in Cambidgeahjrr fell unsko me ooi; 
mocha loked Sat : but tD^ t^^pfipav ikoAi sodajrne JojEe I 



0EIOINAL LSTTEBS. 115 

vmR ftmhwith assaultid with trouble by them which 
made title withoute ryght:or goode consyderation : and 
aUthowgh my lorde CardinaU^ whome God pardone^ 
knowing my title to be perfect and mier, as having it 
«ux>lUd bifore him, and at the first beginnings hiering 
him gelf the mutuall cov^iaunts bytwene my fader 
and my- cosen Sir William Fyndexne^^ whoes fader was 
my mothers mikle, by his gdode justice gave me good 
omnlbrt, yet then having aga}m me many grete per- 
Bobageg, by tibe meanes of M'. Poite the justice, whoes 
daughter myn adversaries sone hadd maried, I was 
OMUstrayned to retayne so many lemyd men, and so to 
^plie my. busyness, that the saide Sute contynuyng 
one yere and an half, stoode me above one hundred 
pounds. Afterward my saide lorde Gardinall, for 
some goode oppynion that he conceyvyd of me with- 
oute my merites, advauncid me (as he supposid) to 
bi^ Clerk of the Counsayle, withoute my sute or de- 
9yr^ All be it afterward I was not ingrate as I 
will toll you hereafterward. Than was there newly 
dftkgate from the SVemse Chamber all matars of the 
Nocsth pactes and Wales as ye know: those few that 
remayned weiie for the more parte the ocnaplaynts of 
beggars, wlucht shortly pexceyving, I^ my clerks re- 
pugning, did sett such a rate in fees ordiaary as nei- 
ther any man shold be exeesaifly grievyd, nor that I 
shold be seene to pike^ oute substance oute of other 

• ptok. ' 



116 OHIGINAL LETTERS. 

mennys povertie : but that mougbt I the better sus- 
tayne by raison that I was than allso Clerk of the As- 
^sises Westward which was to me worth yerly one hun- 
dred marcs. But by the solicitation of some men 
which yet doo l)rve, my sayde lorde bearing me on 
hand that I was and sholde be so necessary to be con- 
tinually attendant on the Counsayle that it shold be 
expedient for me to leve the office of the Assises, (pro- 
mysing moreoTer that by his meanes the King shold 
otherwise shortly promote me bothe to more worship 
and proffite,) finally willed me to resigne my said Of- 
fice, tak3mg onely for it CC" which after longe resist- 
ence finally I meist folow his pleasure to keepe him 
my goode Lorde. That doone whan the yere was 
fimsshid I suyd to him to optayne a patent for the of- 
fice in the Counsayle, which his Grace didd as I herd 
say, but I could never com by it : Doctor Cley burgh 
and other keping it from me. After I suyd for the 
fee, which as I herd saye was fourti marcs by the yere, 
wherof I hadd promyse, but I never receyvid it. 
So by the space of six yeres and an half I servyd the 
King not in the Sterre Chamber onely, but in some 
things pertayning to the Clerk of the Croune, some 
to the Secretaries, and other travailes which I will 
nof now reherce leste ye sholde deeme me longe in 
praising my self, and all this time without fee, with- 
oute reward more than the ordinare : and that which 
more grevith me, withoute thank 6f the King which 



O&IGINAL LETTERS. 117 

I deservyd as it wold appier if his Grace hadd ben 
truely infourmed of me, and my drawghtes seene 
which I devisid and made to my sayde Lorde. In 
this unthankful! travayle I no thing gate but the 
Colike and the Stone, debilitating of Nature, and all- 
moste contynuell destinations or rewmes, ministres 
to abbreviate my lif ; which though it be^of no grete 
importance, yet some wayes it mought be necessary. 
Finally, after the deth of my sayde Lorde, there was 
a former patente founde of the sayde Office, and myn 
was callid in and cancelled, and I discharged without 
any recompence, rewarded only with the order of 
Enighthode, honorable and onerouse, having moche 
lasse^ to lyve on than bifore. And to minish my poure 
astate, I hadd a litle before payid to doctor Naturess, 
executor to Syr William Fyndeme, to redeeme cer- 
tayne jreres duryng the which he claymed to take the 
profits of my land for the execution of a wille, thre 
hundred and xlviij. pounds. So withoute office or 
any fee in the world (I refusing fees, to th'intent in 
servyng the Kyng I wold lyve out of all suspicion) 
withoute any ferme, withoute any stokke of Catell 
except foure hundred shepe to compasse the lands of 
my tenaunts, I have hitherto kept a pour house equall 
with any knight in the contrayes wher I dwell ; and 
not withoute indignation of them which have moche 
more to lyve on. Nowe althowgh very unmeete and 
unhabile, I have servyd the King in his Grace^s roes- 

•lesse. 



118 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

«age, bow our Loixl Jcnowitli, suer I am traely and 
faithfully. Therein employed I fyve hundred and 
fourty marks >above «]1 the Sngs alowonoe, whidi I 
nothing repent me of> trusting that his Grace is 
pleased with tny service: faut now that I trusted to 
lyve quietdy, and by little ind Iktle !to repay my cre- 
* ditors, and to reoonsile myseif to myn olde studies, 
and pray for the King, (for other promotion I iokid 
not for) I wote not l^y what malice of fortune I am 
constrayned toi)e in that office whenmto is as it were 
app^idant losse of money and good name : of the oae 
I am certayne ; the other is fa^^^ to eskape, all sharp- 
nesse and diligence in Justice now a dayes being every 
where odiouse. As Godd h^pe me, sais my cam- 
myng over I have disdiargid oute of my service fyve 
honest and tall personage, oonstr^ynid of necessitie, 
untill I mowght recover myself oute of dett : and now 
am I compelled to augment my household eftsones, or 
ells shold I serve the Kinge sklenderly. Ye here myn 
occasions, I pray you than blame me not thowgh I 
have my mynde somewhat inquieted ; not that I im* 
brayde the King with my service, but that I sorow 
that his Grace hath not ben so informed of me as my 
service requyred: and moreover that I am not of 
powar to serve his Grace according to his expectation, 
and as my pour hart desyreth. And ;goode Mr. Cram* 
well I thank you that ye will lese so moche tyme to 
reade this longe Letter, praying You to bear part cf 
it in your remembrance that as oportunitie servith ye 



0&I6INAL L£TT£KS. 119 

may trudy awifiwer tor your &end, who hardly desyr- 
erti ihe iiHareaie ci your worship. And I pray you 
ooothme yo&t tBLVor towards Mr. Raynsford whom ye 
dudl fynde «U9 holiest and faithfull as any 4hat ever ye 
were ^le^fUaykited witL A^d I beseche Godd send 
you longe Itf, and well to doo. Writen att Carleton the 
vHj. day of Decembre. 

By yours assured 

Ttt. ELYOT kT 
To the right wonhipfull 
and nijfne assuryd frende 
Mr. CroiiiwdlL 

LETTER CXLIII. 

EdAwrd Earl qfHertfbrdy afterwards Protector, to 

Lord CromwelL 

[tn. GOVTOK. f E«I>. 4*. XIII. fol. 104. Orig.^ 



Ml veri ;^pod Lord) after mi right harte comm^iida- 
ckais, this schal be )to advertise the lame that this day, 
the xii?* of Jufi^ I reseyvid y<l^r Lett^ dittid att Oky^g 
the ix9* of the same, wher in I perseyve your Lordshep 
hath made me partisiptaat to the kyi^ Higfanis Let? 
latli com from Mast' Wottun and the biship of He- 
rifcNrd, few which yo' jentell rememberans I most har- 
teli thank yo' good lordship, and am as glad of the 
good resolucion of the Deuk of Cleves his mother and 



ISO ORIGINAL L£TTEBS. 

Cunsell, as ever I was of thing sithen the birth of the 
Prense ; for I think the k}mgs Highnes schould not 
in Cristundum mari in no plas, meght for his Grasis 
onar that schould be lesse prejudidall to his majestes 
succecion. And as conseming the other part of yo' 
Let% that the French Kyng begenith to be veri jentell 
to the Kyn^ Highnes, I am right glad ther of, for 
that I think the amite of Aquamort will not long in- 
deur, but I would aben* more gladar yf that his jen- 
tillnis had prosedid of love and not for his porpos. I 
am nothing sori to perseyve yo' Lordship is lik 
schorteli to prove a profit**, in that you would allweis 
sey yeu were suar the amite betwene the Emperour 
and French Kjug wouldnot contineu : and as for yo' 
lordshipis rememberans of Shen I doo not dowght 
but that you wouU acomplich hit when oportunite will 
sarve. I intend with Grods leve to se the Kyngs High- 
nes and yo' Lordshep with in a wiks wherfor I will 
forber fro fardar trubeling you att this time. Thus I 
comit you to Grod, hoo<* send yo' lordshep as well to 
far® as I would mi sellfe. Fro Wollfall the xvij JuH 
w^ the iU hand of yo' lordshepis assurid 

£. HEBTFOBD. 

To my veri good Lord Previ sell 
is good Lordshep. 

f have been. ^ prophet. • week. ' who. * fiure. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121 

LETTER CXLIV. 

Extrctct of a Letter from Nichclas Wotton t& Ki/ng 
Henry the Eighthy giving cm Account of the Person 
cmd Accon^Ushments of the Lady Arnie qfCleves. 

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. XXI. foL 186. Orig,\ 

*^* Nicholas Wotton and Richard Beide were the persons deputed to 
negotiate Henry the Eighth's marriage with Anne of Cleves. A previous 
Letter to that from which the following extract is made, occurs in the same 
volume, fol. 178 ; dated Cleves, May 3<*. 1539. Tfaie former part of the 
present Letter, which is niudi burnt, reports some negotiations between the 
Duke of Cleves, die Elector of Saxony, and some other (German Princes.^ 



-X- I fynd the Coiinsell willing yn nough to pub- 
lisshe and manifeste to the World, that by eny cove- 
nauntes made by tVolde Duke of Cleves and the Duke 
of Lorayne, my Lady Anne is not bownden ; but ever 
hathe ben and yet is at her free libertye to marye 
where ever she' Molle. 

As for th^education of my sayde Ladye, she hathe 

from her childehode (lyke as the Ladye Sybille was, 
tyll she wer maryed", and the Ladye Amelye hathe 
ben and is) ben brought up withe the Ladye Duchesse 
her mother, and yn maner never from her ellebow, 
the Ladye Duchesse being a wyse Ladye, and one 
that verye streytelye lookithe to her children. All the 
gentylmenne of the cowrte, and other that I have ask- 

* Sybille, or Sybiila, was married to the Elector of Saxony, the head of the pro- 
tcstaut League. 



ISS OEIGINAL L£TT£ES. 

yd of, rapporte her to be of verye lowlye and gentyll 
condicions, by the whiche she hathe so muche wonne 
lier motihers &vor, that she is verye lothe to «tdEer her 
tso departe from her. She occupiedie her tyme moste 

with die aedyll, wiierwithiLll she . 

She canne reede and wiyte her , 

. . but Frenche, Latyn^ or other langa%e she . • . 

one nor yet canne not synge iM>r pleyd 

upon onye instrument ; for they take it heere yn Ger- 
manye for a r^uke and an occasion of ligfatenesse that 
great Ladyes shuld be lemyd or have enye knowledge 
of musike. Her witte is so goode^ that no doubte she 
wille yn a shorte space leme th^Englisshe tongue, when 
so ever she puttithe her mynde to hit. I cowde never 
heere that she is ynclyned to the good cheere of this 
Cowntrey, and merveyle it wer yf she shulde, seinge 
that her brother, yn whome yet hit were sumwhat more 
tolerable, dothe so well absteyne from hit. Your Graces 
servante Hanee Albein ^ hath taken th^effigies of my 
Ladye Anne and the Ladye Amelye, and hathe ex- 
pressyd theyr imaiges verye ly velye. 

Written at Duren the xj^ daye of August A°. Dni. 

1539. 

Yb' Highnesse moste bownden subject, and 

da^elye bedemanne, 

NICHOLAS WOTTON. 

* Hans Holbein. 



OEHGINAL LETTERS. 19S 

At* TB& <the dealfa «f Jttne Sejrmoixr, Heary llie iHghth made several 
attempts to marry. His first offer was to the duchess dowager of Milan, 
buther answer is said toliave been that she had but one head ; if she had had 
tWtt, oneriiouldhaye been Htbis msje^'s service. He was nect anxious 
to have had Mary of Ghiise, but she was betrothed and afterwards married 
'to the King of Scots. Henry would then have made choice of one of the 
two sisters of Mary of IShiise, if Frauds the Fint would have consented 
to have brought them to Calais for his inspection : but this being refused, 
fiiolbein was despAltiMd to FlaHdeni to paint the very Miniature of Anne 
ef Clevcs mentioned in ibe preceding Letter : andhedrew so favourable a 
likeness that Henry made up his mind to be enamoured of her. Thecon- 
flflqneftfOes t»f :flie ptStUO^i flattery Were serious. Alsne of Cleves landed at 
Deal December the 27^ 1539, and was married to Henzy, Jan. 6^ 1540. 
But Henry did not give his inward consent when lie espoused her ; a sen- 
tttice Of d^rttte irn^ im codgequebte, pttsed between them on July 9& 
following : Cromwell losixig his head on July 38^ 

Anne of Cleves, though evidently unsuited as a wife to Henry, appears 
^MvvebeeBa wnmimafgoad seiMie. SheJiaCwtfaeidai^er toi^chshe 
was exposed, and made no scruple to acquiesce in the separation ; still, 
after ^ dfl&ont she had received, a residence in Flanders was not to her 
.testes Aejj^rctesed {moaing tbe ^rammider flfiiir dag» in England. $he 
died at Chdsey, July 15th. 1557. ' 

llie identical picture mentioned in Nicholas TTotton's Letter, is believed 
l^qfiby Gnnger AidLopd Odbfd to tiave been 4ihe Jftiniatnre wbidi was 
a few. years ago in the Collection of Mx. Barrett at Lee in Kent; and 
w)iidi was engraved for the Illustrious Heads. Lord Orford thought it 
the mdst exquisitely perfedt of all Holbein*s works, as *well as in tfiehi^est 
preservaticm. The print, he adds, ^ves a very inadequate idea of it, and 
^lOiie of iier Flemish fairness. It was preserved in die ivoiy box in which 
it came ever, and which jrepvesentod a Jose rio delicately carved as to be 
worthy of the jewel it contained. 



LETTER CXLV. 

The I/yrds 1^ the CaimcU io King Henry VII P!" re- 
^pedmg the Lord Lawarre^ a. d. 15S9. 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 70. Orig,'\ 

%* The particular fact alluded to in the following Letter, the offence 
given to King Henry the Vlll^h by the Lord La Warre, Is not mentioned 
by our Historians. Dugdale, in Ua Baronage, is equally silent upon it. 



124? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Our most bounden dueties right humbly remembred 
to your most excellent Maieste. Please your most no- 
ble Grace to be advertised that We your most humble 
subjects and obedient servaunts have this present daye 
employed all our toost diligence, industrie, and activite 
to trye oute the veray botom and pith of suche things 
as the Lorde Lawarre hath ben detected to have of- 
fended your Majeste. But as yet we can fynde no suf- 
ficient grounde to committe hym to prison into your 
Graces Towr. And for thies two or thre dayis thW- 
faires (as your Maieste knoweth) be suche that we have 
dilFerred tyll the same be passed the further enserching, 
with all meanes possible to trye the very effect of his 
detection. In the meane tyme we have in yourMaiesties 
name commaunded hym to write all suche things as 
he hath allredy confessed, and that can come to his 
mynd. And further, that upon payne of his allege- 
aunce he shal kepe his house,, and commone with no 
maner suspecte persone tyll we shall further declare 
unto hym your graciouse pleasur. Beseching your most 
noble and benigne Grace that, seen* upon consyder- 
acion that we fynde as yet no sufficient mater agenst 
hym, and that having respect aswell to your mercyfull 
clemencye, as also to your Graces honor, that wold not 
have hym upon a weak grounde (wherof he myght 
clere hym self afterwarde) to be extremely handeled, 
we have respy ted his. Emprisonement. It may please 

•weiog. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. Igg 

your Highnes not to be offended therewith, but to par- 
done us as we trust your Highnes of your most gra- 
cious disposition woll. Assuredly if we shuld have com- 
mitted hym to the Towr, howesoever the matier shuld 
waye, it shuld so moch touch his honeste, and he by 
the same shuld be put to such a rebuke, that he shuld 
never be hable to recover it. Therefore agayn, most 
humbly prostrate at your Maiesties fete, we beseche 
the same to pardone us : not doubting but in the same 
and all other your Highnes maters we shal not faile to 
endevoyre our selfs according to our most bounden 
dueties as shalbe, we hoope, to your Graces satisfac- 
tion and contentement. Prayeng Allmyghty God to 
maynteyne your Ma*!^ prosperouse regne, honor, and 
lif, to our fruition long to endure. Writen at your 
Graces Cite of London, the first daye of Decembr the 
XXX* yere of yo' most prosperouse and noble regne. 
Your Maiesties most bounden feithfull 
anid humble subjects servaunts 
and beadesmen 

THOMAS AUDELEY. 
T. NORFOLK. 
CHARLYS SUFFOLK. 
THOMAS CRUMWELL. 
ROBT. SUSSEX. 
E. HERTFORD. 

" To the Kings moost ^^ Southampton. 

Royal! Maieste.*' 



196 ORIO^INAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CXLVI. 

Ten Ladies of the Courts to King Henry the Ei^Uhj 
ttpon visiting His Majesty's new Great Ship at 
Portsmouth. 

[M8. COTTOK. VE8P. F. XXII. foL 143b Orlff,] 

*«* MabjU Lady Southampton, the first posoa whose name is affixed 
to this Letter, was the wife of Thomas FUawfDiam admiral of En^^d, 
Wales, Irelaod, Noimandy, Oaaooine, and Aquitaiae; who^ in the 29^ of 
Heniy the Eighth, was advanced to the title and dignity of Earl of 
Soutliampton. ¥Vom tliis drcnmstanoe, and the.mention of Prince £d^ 
vaid, it is evident that tfa« Xietter ^ould not have been writt^ much bfr. 
fore 1540. 

What was die name of the newGveat Ship allnded to, the edftor has 
not diseoirerad. Th4 ^^ Regent" baft been burnt in an acdoa in 1613 ; 
immediatdy upon the destruction of which the ^^ Henry Grace de Dieu** 
waabuilt of a thonsasd ton. Queen Elizabeth built a similar Ship ddkd 
^' the Trade*s Incnase,*' of twelve hundred ton. 



Most gratiouae and benigne sovraagBe Loide, 
plea^ it your Highnes to understonde that iree have 
seene and bee&e in your newe Ghreate Shippe, and the 
rest of your shippes at Pcrtifiiiiowth, wiche arr things 
so goddlie ta beeholde, that, in our liefs wee have not 
seene (exciting your royall person and my lord the 
PriAce.yeur'soime) a more pleasaunt sight ; for wiche, 
axid^tbie 111061 bouotifid gifts^ the chere and most gra- 
tiouse ^[ft^rtdgnOdimt, wich your Grace hath vouch- 
savid to b^Bto^ote upon us your most unworthie and 
humbfe servaunts, we^ rendre and send unto the same 
our most humble and entier thanks wich wee beseche 



OSTGINAL LETTERS^ 1S7 

your Ma**® to accept in good parte, advertising the same 
that there rest nowe but only ij[« sorowes ; the tone 
for lacke of your royall presence that ye might have 
seene your said Shippes, nowe at this tyme whan wee 
might have waited on you here; the toodre that wee 
thinke long til it may eftsones lieke you to have us 
with you, wiche wee all most hertely beseche our Lord 
God may bee ^lortely ; who preserve your most noble 
person, and my Lord Prince, and graunte you bothe 
to reigne over us ; Your* Majesty many yeris. His 
Grace with long continuance but by late succession, 
as never Princes did before You. From Your Ma- 
jesties havon and towne of Portismowth thelSij'^. of 
August. 

Yo^ Highnes most bounden 
and humble servaunts, 

andbeadwomen 

MABYELL SOWTHAMPTOV 

ICAROARfiT TAYIJSB0I3, MABGBETT HOWARDE, 

ALYS BROWNE. ANNE KN^YYTT. JANE DENNY. 
JANE MEOWS ANNE BASSET " 

ELIS^ABETK XYBWHYT . ELSABETH HARVY. 



128 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CXLVII. 

Ottwell Johnson, to his brother John Johnson a mer- 
chant of the Staple at Calais, describing the Execiu^ 
tion qfOoLieen Catherine Howard. 

£fROM THB OBIGINAlb IN HIS MAJBSTV'S RBCOBD OFFICB IN THB TOWBR.] 

*«* Our principal information of the crimes and death of Queen Ca- 
therine Howard is derived from two sources only : from a Letter which 
the Lords of the Council addressed to M*^. William Pagett our ambassa- 
dor in France*, and from the Act of Attainder. The latter is not upon 
the Statute Roll ; but the (mginal Act is preserved in the Parliament 
Office, in the bundle of the 37th. Hen. VIII. 

The following Extract ficom a Merchant*s Letter, presents an Account 
of the Elocution by an eye-witness, who unquestiimably informs us that 
both the "Queen and Lady Rochfbrd made a full confession of their guilt 



At London the 15* day in February 1641 •* 

From Calleis I have harde nothing as yet of your 
sute to my Lord Gray : and for news from hens, know 
ye, that even according to my writing on Sonday last, 
I se the Quene and the Lady Retcheford suffer within 
the Tower, the day following^ whos sowles (I doubt 
not) be with God, for thay made the moost godly and 
christyan's end, that ever was hard tell of (I thinke) 
sins the worlds creation; uttering. thayer lively faeth in 
the blode of Christe onely, and with goodly words and 
stedfast countenances thay des3a*ed all christen people 

• MS. Cotton. Otho, c x. fol. 251. The Letter is much burnt 
* The ecclesiastical oomputaticm a. d. 1541-2. • Feb. IS*"*. 1542. 



ORIGINAI, LETTERS. 1^ 

to take regard unto thayer worthy and just punnish- 
ment with death for thayer offences, and agenst God 
hainously from thayer youth upward, in breaking all 
his commandements, and also agenst the S[ing^s roy- 
all Majesty very daungeriously : wherfor thay being 
justly condempned (as thay sayed) by the Lawes of the 
Realme and Parlement, to dye, required the people 
(I say) to take example at them, for amendement of 
thayer ungodly lyves, and gladdly to obey the King in 
all things, for whos preservation thay did hartely pray ; 
and willed all people so to do : commending thayer 
sowles to Grod, and emestly calling for mercy upon 
him : whom I besieche to geve us grace, with suche 
faeth, hope, and charite at our departing owt of this 
miserable world, to come to the fruytion of his god- 
hed in joy everlasting. Amen. 

Your loving brother 

OTWELL JOHNSON. 

With my harty commendacions unto M' Cave and 
M*^ Cave, not forgetting my syster your wiff, I pray 
youiett them be made parttakers of thies last newes, 
for surely the thing is well worth the knowledge. 



VOL. II. 



ISO ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CXLVIII. 

Fragment of a Letter ofKi'ng Henry the Eighth to 

Queen Catherine Parr. 

[m8. cottok. calio. e. IV. foL 56 b. Orig."] 

•»• What remains of this Letter, is, itsdf, but a burnt firagment; Ae 
Volume containing it having been injured very much in the fire at West. 
minster in 173L The portion here selected, is that part only which is 
written entirely m the King's hand. The eariy part of the Letter isin the 
hand of a Secretary. It was written before Boulogne, Sept. Q^K 1544 



. . . the closyng upp off thes our Letters thi . . . . 
the castell affore namyd with the Dike is att our com- 
. . . ment" and nott lyke to be reoovert by the frence 
men agajoie, as we trust : not dwghtyng^ with Gods 
grace but that the castell and towne shall sortly *^ folow 
the same trade : for as thys day, whyche is the viij*^ 
day of September, we begynne thre bateryse, and 
have iij. mynys goyng, by syd won whyche hath done 
hys execution in scakyng^ and teryng off woon off 
theyre grettest bulwarkes. No more to yow att thys 
tyme swethart bothe for lacke off tyme and grett oc- 
cupation off bysynes, sayyng we pray yow to gyff in 
our name our harte blessyngs to all our chyldren, and 
^ recommendations to our cousin Margett^ and the rest 
off the lads^ and gentyll women, and to our Consell 
allsoo. Wryttyn with the hand off your lovyng hows- 
bande 

HENRY R. 

* comroafidment. •> doubting. « shortly. ~ * shaking. 

• The Lady Margaret Douglas, who was uiece to King Henry, may possibly be 
here meant. 

'ladies. 



OEIGINAL LETTEBS. 131 



LETTER CXLIX. 

Prince Edward to Queen Catherine Parr, 
[ms. cotton, kero c. X. fol. 4. Ortg,} 

*^* A few short Letters sue now presented to the Reader, explanatory 
of the style and manner in which King Edward the Sixth, in his younger 
yean and in Ms father's life time, was instructed to address the different 
members of his fiunily. Thjee to Queen Catherine Parr afford specimens 
of his style in En^ish, Latin, and French ; there is one to the Princess 
Kary in Latin; one to King Henry the Eighth thanking him tst yarious 
clothes and toys ; and one to archbishop Cranmer in return for a present 
of a Cup. These appear all to have been written in or about 1546, when 
Prince Edward was in his ninth year*. 

Of the Hadeian Manuscript from which the three last of these Letters 
have been taken, a particular account will be hereafter given. 



Most honorable and entirely beloued mother, I 
have me most humbli recommended unto your Grace 
w* lyke thankes, both for y* your Grace did accepte 
so gentylly my simple and rude letters, and also y^ it 
pleased your Grace so gentylly to vowchsaufe to directe 
unto me your louing and tendre letters, which do geue 
me much comfort and enccmragemeat to go forward 
in such thinges wherein your Grace bereath me on 
hand, y' I am alredy ent^ed. I pray God I maie be 
liable in part to satisfy thegoodexpectationof tb^Eioigs 
Maiesti my father and of your Grace, whom God have 
ever in U% most blessed keping. 

Your louing scmne 

E. PRIKCE. 

• H£ nru bom on St Edward's %V9, October the 12^. 1537- 

k2 



1S2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CL. 

Prince Edward to the Queen. 

[ms. cottox. vesp. f. III. foL 18. Orig,1 



FoR:TAssE miraberis me tam sepe ad te scribere, id- 
que tam brevi tempore, Regina nobilissima, et Mater 
charissima, sed eadem ratione potes mirari me erga 
te ofRcium facere. Hoc autem nunc facio libentius, 
quia est mihi idoneus nuncius servus meus, et ideo non 
potui non dare ad te literas ad testificandum studium 
meum erga te. Optime valeas Regina nobilissima. 
Hunsdonise. Vigesimo quarto Maij.* 

Tibi obsequentissimus filius 

EDOUARDUS PEINCEPS. 

Illustrissims Regina^ 
matri mese. 



LETTER CLI. 

Prince Edward to the Queen. 

[harl. MS. 6986. art, 9. Orig,] 



Je voiis mercie tres noble & tres excellente Roine de 
voz lettres lesquelles vous m'envoiastes demierement 
non seulement pour la beaute devoz Jettres maisaussy 
pour rinvention des mesmes lettres. Car quand je voi- 
ois vostre belle escriture & I'excellence de vostre engin 

• From the Harleian MS. 50B7* it appears that this Letter was written in 1546. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 133 

grandement precedant mon invention je nausois vous 

^scrire: mais quand ie pensois que vostre n^ 

estoit si bonne, que toute chose procedant d'un bon 
esprit et vouloir s . . . acceptable, je vou ay escrit 
ceste lettre cy. De ma maison de Hampton Court. 

EDWARD. 

A la tres noble et tree 
excellente Roine. 



LETTER CLII. 

Prince Edward to his sister the Princess Mary. 

[harl. M8. 6087* art. 6.] 

*«* This and the two Letters which follow, are from a Volume in the 
Harleian Collection of Manuscripts, containing a fair transcript of the 
Latin Letters and Exercises of King Edward the Sixth, chiefly when 
Prince. It is written upon paper, is hound in vellum, with the Royal 
Arms, France and England quarterly, stamped in gold upon the covers ; 
and is the very hook which Eling Edward himself kept It is entitled 
^' Epistols Edouatdi Prindpis illustrissimi, quas suopte marte com- 
posuit et scripsit anno aetatis nono.*' 

The Letters, forty-three in number, bear, date from different places. 
Hertford, Hunsdon, HatBeld, the Tower of London, St Jameses, Hamp. 
ton Court, and Oatlands. They are addressed to the King, to Queen Ca. 
therine Parr, the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth, to Cox his almoner and 
-preceptor, to the Duke of Somerset, and one to archbishop Cranmer ; with 
a copy of the *•*• Responsio Regis E. VI. ad nuncium Regis Polonise, anno 
primo, 9^ Septembris.*' From the tenderness of Edward's age, as well as 
from the quotations of Erastaius, Job, Solomon, Ludovicus Vives, St Paul, 
"Horace, Cicero, and Aristippus, which they contain, it may be fairly con- 
duded that his Majesty was assisted in the enditing of them by his Latin 
tutor. 

. The Declamations are six in number, all bearing date in June and July 
1549. Two only have titles ; *''• An pnescientia rerum sit utilis ;" and 
^^ Dulce helium inexpertis.*' 

* /. nature. 



134 OllIGlNAL LJCTTERS. 

£t8I non scribo ad te frequenter soror charissima, 
tamen noUem te putare me esse ingratum et tui obli- 
visci. Nam diligo te eque bene ac si misissem cr&- 
brius ad te literas, et amo te sicut frater debet amare 
charissimam sororem, quae habet omnia omamenta 
virtutis et honestatis in se. Quemadmodum enim in- 
duo optimas vestes rarissime, iUas tamen amo plus 
aliis, sic scribo ad te rarissime, sed amo te plurimum. 
Pretereagaudeo te oonvaluisse, audivi enim te aegro- 
tasse. Sic enim facio propter fratemum amorem quem 
tibi debeo, et benevolentiam erga te meam opto tibi 
perpetuam salutem tum corporis, tum animi. Vale 
in Christo mea charissima soror. Hunsdoniae^ octavo 
Maij. 

E. PRINCEFS. 

• Huiudon, in Hertfordthire, had been a place of some eminaaee at an earlier day. 
William of Wyrcestre in his Itinenu7 states a castellated mansion of brick to have 
been built here by Sir William Oldhall, in the 26tfa Hen. VI. which, with the stabtet. 
A^c. cost seven thousand marks, 6s* S)^. Its owner afterwards took part widi 
Richard the Third, and fell in Bosworth field : when the manor becoming forfieited* 
it was granted for their lives to Mai^garet countess of Ridunond and her husband the 
carl of Derby. 

In the Sid of Hen. VIU. tiie Khig, having greatly increased the buildings hert» 
erected it into a Palace Royal, and annexing to it the neighbouring manors of Roy^ 
don and Stansted, converted it into an Honor : fixing upon it as the chief place fbr 
the nursing and education of his children. 

King Edward Vlth, by patent dated iTth May in his second year* assigned the 
Honor of Hunsdon to his sister the Lady Mary, who resided here till the L4idy, Jane 
Gray was proclaimed Queai, when she removed to Framlingfaam in Suffolk. 

In the 4th and 5th Phil, aod Mar. the Honor of Hunsdon was annexed to 0» 
Duchy of Lancaster. Queen EUiabeth however again separated Hunsdon ftom the 
crown, and granted the manor to Henry Carey, afterwards Lord Hunsdon, the son 
of her mother's sister Mary Boleyn by Sir WillUun Carey. 

Here the history of Hunsdon as a Palace ends. Considerable remains <tf its ancient 
buildings still exist It is situated about four miles from Hoddesdon. 



ORIGINAL LETTEES. 135 

LETTER CLIII. 

Prince Edivard to his Jhther^. King Henry the Eighth. 

[ms. haul. 5087. art 16.] 



Ingsntes tibi gratias debeo agere, Rex nobilissime, 
atque pater colendissime, quod me tarn humaniter trac-^ 
tasti sicut pater mei wxiantissimuB, & qui me velles 
nunquam non recte agere. Gratiam etiam tibi habea 
quod dedisti mihi magna dona et preciosa, ut catenas, 
annulos cum globulis, gemmas, torques, et buUas, et 
monilia, vestes, et permulta alia. In quibus rebus et 
donis apparet patema tua pietas in me. Si enim me 
non amares, nolles preebere mihi dona tarn g^nmea. 
Mihi autem praebes haec omnia non ut essem superbus, 
et mihi nimium placerem, vidererque excellere omnes, 
sed ut me impelleres ad studium omnis verse virtutis 
et pietatis, et ut omares et excoleres me omnibus 
omamentis quae digna sunt Principe. Denique ut 
ego tanto amore afiectus essem ingratissimus. De« 
us enim me jubet amare iniraicum, et multo magis 
amare patrem meum qui duxit me in banc lucem« 
Vale Rex nobilissime atque pater venerande, atque 
precor Deum ut te servet. E domo tua palustri, quar- 
to Augusti, anno 1646. 



136 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CLIV. 

Prifice Edward to Archbishop Cranmer. 

[MS. HARL. 5087. art. 32.] 



Du.« res mihi calcar addiderunt ut ad te literas scri- 
b^m Susceptor amantissime. Prima ut tibi gratias 
agam ob calicem, deinde ob literas tuas quas ad me 
postremum misisti. Poculum tuum perhibet testimo- 
nium te mihi plurimos felicissimos annos optare ac 
precari. Ex Uteris autem tuis multum fructus accepi, 
quod in illis me hortaris, atque veluti stimulum mihi 
addis ad perdiscendas bonas literas, quae mihi usui fu- 
turae sint cum ad virilem perveniam aetatem. Literas 
vero bonae, et artes liberales, mihi discendae sunt, quod 
Aristippus hoc dicere solet. Disce puer quae tibi viro 
sunt usui futura, atque etiam huic quadrat quod ille 
Cicero eloquentissimus autor narrat: Literarum stu- 
dia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, res se- 
cundas omant, adverts perfugium ac solatium pra&> 
bent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pemoctant 
nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur. Denique exo- 
ratum te volo ut boni consulas latinitatem meam, ipsa 
barbarie barbariorem, cum tua eloquentia sit excellen- 
tissima. Vale Susceptor amantissime, oculis meis 
mihi charior, cui multum faelicitatis opto. Hartfor- 
diae 24^ Januarij anno 1546. 

E. PKINCEPS. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 137 



LETTER CLV. 

Heiiry Radclyf, EarlqfSusseXytohis Countess^notify- 
ing the death of Henry the Eighth, a. d. 164j7. 

[mS. cotton. TITUS B. II. foL 61. OrigJ\ 



Madame with most lovyng and hertie commenda* 
cions, thies be to signifie unto you that our late Sove- 
raigne Lord the King departed at Westminster uppon 
Friday last die xxviijH of this instant Januarie about 
two of the clock in the momyng. And the Kings 
Majestic that nowe is proclaymed King this present 
last day of the same moneth. And lik as for the depart- 
ure of th^on wee may lament, so for th'^establisshment 
of thother to all our comforts, we may rejoyce. The 
names of his Executours ar th'^archbischop of Canter- 
burie, the Lord Wriothesley lord Chauncelor of Eng- 
lond, the Lord St. John lord president of the Coun- 
saile and Gret. Master, the Lord Russell Lord Frivie 
Scale, the Erie of Hertford lord Great Chamberlein of 
Englond, the Viscount Lesley lord Admiral, the bis- 
shop of Derham, Mr. Secretarie Faget, Sir Anthonie 
Denie, Sir Anthonie Browne, Sir William Herbert, 
The Chief Justice' of the Common Flace, Bromley 
another Justice ther. Sir Thomas Baker Chauncelor 
of the tenthes, Sir I^dward North, and divers other 
aidours to the same, which for lak of tyme I pretermit. 



ItiS OBIGJNAL LKTTEliS. 

The Parliament is clerely dissolved : the Terme and 
all write closed. The Court is nowe at the Tower 
from whens the Kings Majestic tomorrow shalbe re- 
ceyved and conducted to his Hous Derehamplace. 
His Hyghnes Coronacion shalbe at Shrovetyme. 

For my oone matiers hetherto, thorough thegret and 
diligent busines that my lord Chauncelor hath had^ I 
could espye no tyme mete to the purpoos ; but shal ne- 
vertheles as sone as oportunitie may serve set forth the 
same. And for your repaire hether in th^end of this 
weke I shall send unto you Henry Northey, by 
whom you shal knowe my determ3mat pleasur. In 
the meane tyme I require you to put all soch things in 
order as shalbe mete for you here. 

Thus, good Madame albeit the contents of your 
Lettres diverslie at length tending to the lak of good 
wil in me that ought to be in a lovyng husband ; the 
same nevertheles as I think proceding of a good hert 
might otherwise have bin qualified I wisse to you my 
owne hert as to my self. From Eliplace in Holbome 
the last day of January in the first yere of the reigne of 
our Soveraigne King Edward the Sixeth. 

Your assured lovjmg husbond 

HENRY SUSSEX. 

To my wief 

The Countas of Sussex. 



LETTERS 



OP 



THE REIGNS OF 



KING EDWARD THE SIXTH 



AND 



QUEEN MARY. 



In illustraticm of Civil History, the infoimation afforded in original 
Letters during the Reigns of Edwabd the Sixth and Queek Maay 
is comparatively scanty. All men seem to have been occupied with 
Ecclesiastical Affairs. 

Str3rpe and one or two other writers have made so rich a harvest of the 
Letters which illustrate the struggle of the two Religions in these reigns, 
that it has been thought best, with the exception of a single Letter fi?om 
the Princess Mary to her brother, on the subject of the Mass, to avoid 
the notice of them altogether. 

The Editor was anxious, indeed, to have enriched his volumes with 
copies of three Latin Letters of the Lady Jane Gray to Henry Bullinger, 
one of the Swiss reformers, which are preserved in the public Library of 
the town of Zurich. They are upon religious topics, and are stated by 
tradition to have been written during her Imprisonment; but that is 
scarcely probable, for she then signed her name Jane Duddelet : 
whereas these are signed Joanna G&aia. One ends, '' Tibi ad omnia 
pietatis officia paratissima, Joanna Graia." In the same Volume 
which contains these letters, are German translations of them in Bul- 
lingcr^s hand-writing. 

Having been unsuccessful in the application to obtain transcripts of 
these, they are mentioned here in the hope that some other person who may 
take the pains to enquire after them at Zurich, may be more successfuL 

Such of the Lady Jane Gray's Latin Letters as are extant in England, 
are usually signed Jana Gkaia. 



OBTGINAL LETTERS. 141 

LETTER CLVI. 
King Edwa/rd the Sixth to Queen Catfierine Parr. 

[ms. ha&l. 5087* art, 34.] 

*^* Three Letters of condolence in Latin, from King Edward the 
Sixth to his step-mother and sisters, upon the death of Henry the Eighth, 
are now presented to the Reader. They are his earliest Letters as King. 
It must be owned indeed, that they savour more of the tutor's hand than 
of King Edward's ; and that they have somewhat of coldness, if not of 
conmion.place in their expression. Cox, the Latin tutor of King Edward, 
it should seem, could not assume for his pupil that expression of natund 
grief which he did not personally feel himself. 

Our Historians are probably mistaken, who suppose that Henry had the 
love and aiFection of his subjects to the last. I^rom the privy counsellor, 
to the monk whom the Reformation had turned adrift upon die world, all 
was fear. So sudden and so overwhelming, in the latter part of life, were 
the transports of Henry's fury. By thousands of his subjects, his death 
must have been considered as a merciful release for themselves. We can- 
not but contrast this with the universal and unfeigned satisfaction which 
marked his coming to the throne. William Montjoy, at tliat time, 
writing from the Court at Greenwich to Erasmus, thus expressed himself^ 
" Nihil vereor, mi Erasme, quin ubi primum audisti Principem nostrum, 
HENRICUM OCTAVUM, seu potius Octavium, defuncto patri in reg- 
num successisse, omnis tibi ex animo a^ritudo repente abierit.''.^^^' O 
mi Erasme, si videas, ut mortales omnes hie Istitia gestiant, ut de tanto 
Principe sibi gaudeant, ut nihil magis exoptent quam ejus vitam, lachry- 
mas.prs gaudio continere non posses. Ridet cether, cxultat terra, omnia 
lactist omnia mollis, omnia nectdris sunt plena, Exulat longe gentium 
AVARiTiA, larga manu spargit opes liberalitas. Nosteb. Rex non 
aurum, non gemmas, non metalla, sed virtu tem, sed gloriam, sed 

iCTERKITATEM COnCUptSCit.^^ * 



Plurimas tibi gratias ago ob epistolam quam ad 
me postremam misisti, clarissima mater ; quae sane est 
signum insignis tui, ac quotidiani amoris in me. Porra 
cum visum sit Deo optimo maximo ut meus pater et 

» Desid. Erasmi EpLst. ut supr. torn. i. p. 7> 



142 ORIGTNAL LETTERS. 

tuus conjunx, Rex illustrissimus, banc vitam finiret, 
nobis ambobus communis est dolor. Hoc vero nobis 
consolationem affert, quod jam sit in coelo, atque quod 
ex hac vita nrisera profectus sit in faelicem atque aeter- 
nam beatitudinem. Quisquis enim hie felicem agit 
Yitam, atque rempublicam recte gubemat, sicut nobi- 
lissimus mens pater fecit, qui promovit omnem pie- 
tatem atque expulit omnem ignorantiam, habet cer- 
tissimum iter in coelum. Quamvis vero natura jubet 
dolere ac lachrymas effundere ob discessum ejus ab- 
saitis, tamen scriptura ac prudentia jubet moderari 
affectus istos ne videamur nuUam omnino spem habere 
resurrectionis mortuorum et vitse defunctorum. Pne- 
terea cum tua celsitudo in me tot benefida contulit, 
ego debeo quicquid commodi possem tibi afierre prse- 
stare. Opto tuae celsitudini plurimam salutem. Vale 
Regina veneranda. E Turri septimo Februarii anno 
1546». 



LETTER CLVII. , 

* 

King Edward the Sixth to his sister the Princess Mary. 

[ms. harl. 5087* f*rt. 35.] 



Natitra non sapientia nobis dassfemn canit ad la^ 
mentandum patris nostri charissimi mortem. Natura 

• A. D. 1546-7. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 

enim putat se ilium amisisse mortuum, at sapientia 
credit quod is qui vivit cum Deo est in aeterna felici- 
tate. Quare cum Deus miserit nobis talem sapientiam 
non debemus mortem illius lugere, cum ejus voluntas 
fidt, qui omnia in bonum operatar. Quod ad me autem 
pertinet, ero tibi charissimus frater et omni benevolen- 
tia exuberans. Deus optimus maximus te imbuat suis 
donis. Vale. E Turn Ixmdoniense, octavo Februarii 
anno 1546^ • 



LETTER CLVIII. 

King Edward the Siwth, to the Princess Elizabeth, 

[ms. harl. 5087< (^rt. 36.] 



MiNiME opus est mihi te consolari charissima Soror, 
quod eruditione tua cognoscis quid sit faciendum, pru^ 
dentia vero et pietate tua, quod eruditio docuit te co- 
gnoscere facto prsestas. Non enim lugendus est pater 
noster, quamvis nobis charissimus fiierit, quod jam sit 
in coelo, nee mors ejus deploranda quae est via ex hac 
vita misera ad longe feliciorem. Quar^ quisque debet 
adniti pro viribus ut Sapi^fitia vincat natura^, et for- 
titudo moderetur afiectus, et consilium gub^net judi- 
cium populi. Quisquis enim hoc facit, is vere ChriB- 

• A. D. 1546-7- 



144 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

tianus appellatur, at si quis dicat qui huic contrarium 
facit Christianum eum certe falso atque illi indigno 
nomine nuncupat. Praeterea literae tuse mihi admo- 
dum arridebant, turn quod in illis elegantes sentential 
continentur, turn quod ex illis sentio te aequo consu- 
luisse animo mortem patris nostri. Forro si ullo mode 
possum tibi commodare libenter praestabo. Optime 
vale. E Turn, octavo Februarii anno 1546*. 



LETTER CLIX. 
King Edward Vli^ to his Uncle the Earl of Hertford. 

[ms lansd. 1236. fol. 14. Orig,] 



Edouardus Rex. 

LiTERiE tuae, Cognate suavissime, mihi longe gra- 
tissimae fuenmt multis de causis. Fiimum quia cum 
eas bene perpendo, sentio in te maximam gratitudi- 
nem, et animi humanitatem, deinde video te Uteris im- 
butum esse, postremo vero animadverto tuam insignem 
dilig^itiam. Ferge igitur in preclaro tuo inccepto, 
sisque erga omnes gratus et humanus, nee amorem 
tuum subtrahas erga literas et preclaram philosophi- 
am, denique adhibe diligentiam in omnibus tuis conati- 
bus. Si etenim humanitate precellueris, omnes naturae 

* A. D. 1546-7- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 145 

tuae bonitatem valde suspicient. Proeterea si amore 
literas prosequaris, et legi divinse des operam, optimus 
qidsque te ad coelum usque extoUet. Postremo si fu- 
eris assiduus, omnia tibi felicissime succedent. Itaque 
pro tua erga me humanitate, non possum non te max- 
ime diligere, pro studio tuo erga literas infracto, non 
te vehementer laudibus vehere, proque diligentia tua 
incomparabili, non te raerito admirari. Vale. Ex 
divi Jacobi* Nono die Junij. 

. Cognato meo chariss^. 

Edouardo Hardfordiensi. 



LETTER CLX. 

The Prmcess EKzdbeth to King Edward VPI* 

[harl. MS. 6986. art. 16. Orig.] 



Like as a shipman in stormy wether plukes downe 
the sailes tarijnge for bettar winde, so did I, most 
noble Einge, in my vnfortunate chanche a thurday 
pluk downe the hie sailes of my ioy and comfort and 
do trust one day that as troblesome wanes have re- 
pulsed me bakwarde, so a gentil winde wil bringe 
me forwarde to my hauen. Two chief occasions 
moued me muche and griued me gretly, the one for 
that I douted your Maiesties helthe, the other bi- 
eause for al my longe tarijnge I wente without that I 

VOL. II. L 



146 ORIGINAL LETTERS^. 

came for. Of the first I am releued in a parte, bothe 
that I vnderstode of your helthe, and also that your 
Maiesties loginge is far from my Lorde Marques cham- 
ber. Of my other grief I am not eased, but the best is^ 
that whatsoever other folkes wil suspect, I intende not 
to feare your graces goodwil, t^iche as I knowe that I 
never disarued to faint, so I trust wil stil stike by me. 
For if your Graces aduis that I shulde retoume (whos 
wil is a commandemente) had not bine, I wold not 
haue made the halfe of my way, the ende of my iour- 
ney. And thus as one desirous to hire of your Maies- 
ties helth, thogth vnfortunat to se it, I shal pray God 
for euer to preserue you. From Hatfilde this present 
Saterday. 

Your Maiesties humble sistar 
to commandemente 

ELIZABETH. 

To the Kinget most 
exceUent Maiestie. 



^mmmmmmm>''mt 



I^ETTER CLXI, 

The Prt7^es9, Elizabeth to King Edward VI*? with a 

Present iff her Portrait, 

[m8» cottok. VX3P. r. ui. foL 20. OrigJ\ 



Like as the richeman that dayly gathereth ridies 
to riches, and .to one bag of mony layeth a greate sort 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 147 

til it come to infinit, so methinkes your Maiestie, not 
bdnge suffised withe many benefits and gentilnes 
shewed to me afore this time, dothe now increase them 
in askinge and desiring wher you may bid and cotfi- 
maunde, requiring a thinge not worthy the desiringe 
for it selfe, but made worthy for your Higthnes re- 
quest. My pictur I mene, in wiche if the inward good 
mjmde towarde your grace migth as wel be declared 
as the outwarde face and countenaunce shal be seen, I 
wold nor haue taried the commandement but pre- 
Uent* it, nor have bine the last to graunt but the first 
to offer it. For the face, I graunt, I might wel blusche 
to offer, but the mynde I shal neuer be ashamed to 
present. For thogth from the grace of the pictur the 
coulers may fade by time, may giue by wether, may 
be spotted by chance ; yet the other nor time with her 
swift winges slial ouertake, nor the mistie cloudes 
with ther loweringes may darken, nor chance with 
her slipery fote may ouerthrow. Of this althogth 
yet the profe coulde not be greate bicause the occar 
sidns hathe bine but smal, notwithstandinge as a dog 
hathe a daye, so may I perchaunoe have time to de- 
clare it in dides wher now I do write them but in 
wordes. And further I shal most humbly beseche 
your Maiestie that whan you shal loke on my pictur, 
you wil witsafe^ to thinke that as you haue but the 
outwarde shadow of the body afore you, so my in- 

• prevented. ^ Touchsafe. 

t2 



148 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ward minde wischeth that the body it selfe wer oftner 
in your presence ; howbeit bicause bothe my so beinge 
I thinke coulde do your Maiestie litel pleasur, thogth 
my selfe great good ; and againe bicause I se as yet not 
the time agreing therunto, I shal leme to folow this 
sainge of Ora€e% ^^ Feras non culpes quod vitari non 
potest.^ And thus I wil (troblinge your Maiestie I 
fere) ende with my most humble thankes. Beseeh- 
inge God longe to preserue you to his honour, to your 
comfort, to the realmes profit, and to my joy. Froua 
Hatfilde this 15 day of May. 

Your Maiesties most humbly sistar 

ELIZABETH. 



LETTER CLXII. 

King Edward the Sixt\ to ilte Duke of Somerset^ upcnt 
his Stuxesses agavnst the Scotch. 

[m8. LAK8D. 1236. foL 16. Or%g,'\ 



Ddrest Vncle, by your lettres and reporte of the 
messenger, we have at good length vnderstanded to 
our great comfort, the good success it hathe pleased 
God to graunt vs agamst the Scottes by your good 
courage and wiae forsight ; for the wich and other the 
benefites of God heaped vpon vs, like as we ar most 
bounden to yeld him most humble thankes, and to 



• Horace. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£ftS. 149 

«eke bi all Vaies we mai his true honour, so do we 
give unto you, good Vncle, <mr most hartie thankes, 
praying you to thanke also most hartelie in <Hir name 
our good Opsin therle of Warwike, and all the othere 
of the noble men, gentlemen, and others that have 
served in this ioumei, of whose service, they shall all 
be well assured, we will not (God graunte us lief) 
shew our selfes vnmindfull, but be redy ever to con- 
sider the same as anie occasion shall serve. Yeven 
at our house of Otlandes, the eighteneth of Septem- 
ber. 

Your good neuew 

EDWARD. 

To our dercst Vncle the Duke 
of Somerset. 



LETTER CLXIIL 

The Princess Mary to the Lord Admired Seymour, 

[MS. LANSD. 1236. foL 26. Orig.] 

*^* *•'' Lord Seymour," says Hume, *•*' was a man of insatiable ambition, 
arrogant, assuming, implacable; and though esteemed of superior capacity 
to the Protector, he possessed not to the Same degree the confidence and 
regard of the people. By his flattery and address, he had so insinuated 
himself into the good graces of the Queen dowager, that forgetting her 
usual prudence and decency, she married him immediately upon the de- 
cease of the late King : insomuch, that, had she soon proved pregnant, it 
might have been doubtful to whidi husband the child belonged.** 

The Letter from the Princess Mary, now before the reader, is in an- 
swer to an Application to her, upon his part, to assist his addresses. The 
Marriage, as the succeeding Letter will show, was, for some time oon- 
oealed. The Queen died in child-bed in the month of September 154& 



150 OKIGINAl LETTERS. 

My lorde after my harty oommendacions theyse shal- 
be to declare to you that accordyng to your accous- 
tomed gentilnes I have receyved syc warrants from 
you by your seruant thys berer, for the whiche I do 
gyve you my harty thanks ; by whom also I have re^ 
cejrved your lettre, wherin (as me thynketh) I par- 
ceyv strange newes concemyug a sewte you have in 
hande to the Queue for maryage; for the soner ob- 
tayneng wherof you seme to thynke that my lettres 
myghte do you pleasure. My lorde in thys case, I 
truste, your wysdome doth consyder, that, if it weer 
for my nereste kjmsman & dereste frend on ly ve, of 
all other creatures in the worlde, it standeth lest w* 
my poore honoure to be a medler in thys matter, con- 
syderyng whose wyef her grace was of late ; and be- 
syds that, if she be mynded to grawnt your sewte, my 
lettres shall do you but small pleasure. On the other 
syde, if the remembrance of the Kyngs mayestye my 
father (whose soule God pardon) wyll not suffire her 
to grawnt your sewte, I am noth3nig able to perswade 
her to forget the losse of hyme, who is as yet very 
rype in myn owne remembrance. Wherfore I shall 
moste eamestlye requyre you (the premysses consy- 
dered) to thynke non vnkyndnes in me, thoughe I re- 
fuse to be a medler any wayes in thys matter, assur- 
yng you, that (woweng matters set aparte, wherin I 
beeng a mayde am nothyng connyng) if otherwayes 
it shall lye in my litle power to do you playser, I 



OBIGIXAL L£TT£R1S. 15l 

fihalbe as gladde to do it, as you to requyre it, both 
for hys blodds sadce that you be of^ and * also for the 
gentyhies whiche I have alwayes fownde in you. As 
knoweth almyghty €k)d, to whose tuicyon I commy tte 
you. From Wansted * thys Saterday at nyghte beeng 
the iiij? of June. 

Your assured freud 

to my p%Aver, 

MA&YE. 



LETTER CLXIV. 

The Queen Dowager to the Lord Admiral Seymour. 

[mS. IK MUS. ASHMOL. OXON. Orig.\ 



MY LORD 

As I gether by your Letter delyvered to my bro- 
ther Herbert, ye ar in sum fere how to frame ttiy lord 
yout brother to speke in your favour ; the denyall of 
yowr request schall make hys foly more manyfest to 
the world, wyche wyll more greve me than the want 
of hys ^kyng. . I wold not wjrssche yow importune 
for hys good wyll, yf y t cum nott frankely at the fyrst, 
yt schalbe suffycyent • ones to have requyre yt, and 

« After ih« attainder of Sir Giles Heron, in tlie time of Henry M\\\^^ the mano- 
rial residence at Wansted seems to have been oocasionally used by the royal family. 
It was granted in U49 to Robert Lord Rich. 



15S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

after to cesse. I wold desyre ye myght obtayne the 
Kynge^s Letters in yowre favour, and also the ayde 
and furtherans of the moost notable of Ihe Counsell, 
suche as ye schall thjmke convenyent, wyche thynge 
obtayned schalbe no small schame to yowr brother 
and lovyng syster, in case they do not the lyke. My 
Lord where as ye charge me w* apromys wryttin w* 
myne one hand, to chaunge the two yeres into two 
monethes, I thynke ye have no suche playne sentence 
wrytten w^ my hand ; I knowe not wether ye be apa- 
raphryser or not, yf ye be lemed in that syence yt ys 
possyble ye may of one worde make ahole sentence, 
and yett nott at all tymes after the true meanyng of 
the wryter ; as yt aperyth by thys your exposycyon 
apon my wrytt3nig. Whan yt schalbe yowr pleasur 
to repay re hether ye must take sum payne to come 
erly in the momjnig, that ye may be gone agayne by 
seven aclocke and so I suppose ye may come without 
suspect. I pray yow lett me have knowlege ver* 
nyght at what hower ye wyll come, that yowr porter- 
esse may wayte at the gate to the feldes for yow. And 
thus wyth my most humble and harty comendatyons 
I take my leve of yow for thys tyme gjrvyug yow lyke 
thankes for yowr comyng to the court whan I was 
there. From Chelsey^. 
' I wyll kepe in store tyll I speke w^ yow my lordes 

• over. 

•• The manor of Chelscy was a part of the jointure of Queen Catheriae Parr. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£BS. 153 

large offer for Fausteme, at wyche tyme I schalbe 
glad to knowe your further pleasur therein. 

By her y' ys and schalbe yowr humble true and 
lovyug wyffe durjnig her lyf 

KATEBYN THE aUEN£. K. F. 



LETTER CLXV. 

The Princess EKzabeth to the Protector Somerset. 

[m8. laksd. 1236. foL 35. Orig.] 

*^* Much will be found in illustration of the following Letter in 
Ha3me8*8 Collecticm of the Burleigh Papers. It relates to the Investiga- 
tion which took place in 1548, when the Lord Admiral Seymour, after the 
Queen dowager^s death, made his Addresses to the Princess Elizabeth. 

Katheb-Ikie Ashley, in favor of whom it is written, was the go- 
verness to the Princess. ^ 

The reader who wishes to know more of this affair, will find, in Haynes, 
the Confessions both of the Lady Elizabeth and Katherine Ashley ; with 
the Letter which the Lords of the Council sent to the Princess upon the 
dismissal of the latter ". 

. At the beginning of Edward the Sixth's reign, the Princess had resided 
at Chdsey under the care of the Queen dowager ; and even at that time, 
the Lord Admiral's behaviour to her was most unusually familiar. 



My Lorde I have a requeste to make unto your 
Grace wiche feare has made me omitte til this time for 
tiyo causes, the one bicause I saws that my request for 
the rumors wiche wera sprede abrode of me toke so 
litel place, wiche thinge whan I considered I thogth'' 
I shulde litel profit in any other sute, howbeit now I 

" • Hayiiet's State Papers^ foL Loud. 1740. p. 98— lOT. ^ thoui^t. 



154 ORIGINAL LETTJBE8. 

understande that ther is a Froclamacion for them (for 
the wiche I give your Grace and the rest of the coun- 
sel most humble thankes) I am tlie bolder to speake 
for a nother thinge ; and the other was faicause par- 
aventure your Lordeship and the rest of the Counsel 
wil thinke that I favor her ivel doinge for whome I 
shal speake for, wiche is for Eateryn Aschiley, that it 
wolde please your grace and the rest of the Counsel 
to be good unto her. Wiche thinge I do not to favor 
her in any ivel, (for that I wolde be sorye to do,) but 
for thes consideracions wiche folowe, the wiche hope 
dothe teache me in sainge that I ougth not to doute 
but that your Grace and the rest of the Counsel wil 
thinke that I do it for thre other consideracions. First, 
bicause that she hathe bene with me a longe time, and 
manye years, and hathe taken great labor, and paine 
in brinkinge of me up in leminge and honestie, and 
therfore I ougth of very dewtye speke for her, for 
Saint Gregorie sayeth that we ar more bounde to them 
that bringeth us up wel than to pur parents, for our 
parents do that wiche is natural for them, that is bring- 
eth us into this Worlde; but our brinkers up ar a 
cause to make us live wel in it. The seconde is bi« 
cause I thinke that whatsoever she hathe done in my 
Lorde Admirals matter as conceminge the marijnge 
of me, she dide it bicause knowinge him to be one of 
the Counsel, she thogth he wolde not go about any 
suche thinge without he had the Counsels consent 



OHItilKAL L£TTEKS. 155 

thenmto; for I have harde her manye times say that 
&he wolde never have me mary m any place without 
your Graces and the Counsels consente. The thirde 
cause is bicause that it shal and doth make men thinke 
that I am not dere of the dide myselfe, but that it is 
pardcmed in me bicause of my youthe, because that she 
I loved so wel is in suche a place. Thus hope pre- 
vailinge more with me than feare, hath wone the bat- 
tel ; and I have at this time gone fiirth with it. Wiche 
I pray Gkxl be taken no other wais that it is mente. 
Writen in hast. Frome Hatfilde this 7 day of Marche. 
Also if I may be so bolde not offendinge I beseche 
your Grace and the rest of the Counsel to be good to 
master Aschiley her husbonde, wiche bicause he is my 
kindesman I wold be glad he shulde do well. 

Your assured frende to my litel 

power 

ELIZABETH. 

To my verey good Lorde my 
Lorde Protector. 



LETTER CLXVI. 

The Princess EUzabeth to the Lord Protector. 

[us. LANSD. BBIT. MU8. 1236. foL 33. OHg,] 



*^* The fdUowing Letter was probably written at the b^mning of 
1549, upon the substitution of the Lady Tyrwhit as governess to the 
Primxss Elixabeth, in the room of Katherine Ashley. 



156 OKIGINAL L£TT£R9. 

My Lorde havinge reseuede your Lordeships letters, 
I parceve in them your goodwil towarde me bicause 
you declare to me plainlie your mynde in this thinge ; 
and againe for that you wolde not wische that I shulde 
do any thinge that shulde not seme good unto the 
Counsel, for the wiche thinge I give you most hartie 
thankes. And wheras I do understande that you do 
take in ivel parte the letters that I did write unto your 
Lordeshipe, I am verye sbrie that you shulde take them 
so for my mynde was to declare unto you plainlie as I 
thogth in that thinge, wiche I did also the more wiU- 
ingelye bicause (as I write to you) you desired me to 
be plaine with you in al thinges. And as conceminge 
that pointe that you write that I seme to stande in my 
none witte in beinge so wel assured of my none selfe, 
I did assure me of my selfe nomore than I trust the 
trueth shal trie ; and to say that wiche I knewe of my 
selfe I did not thinke shulde have displeased the Coun- 
sel or your Grace. And surelye the cause whie that 
I was sorye that ther shulde be anye suche aboute me, 
was bicause that I thogth the people wil say that I de- 
served throwgth my lewde demenure to have such a 
one, and not that I mislike any thinge that yoiu: Lorde- 
shipe or the Counsel shal tliinke good, for I knowe 
that you and the Counsel ar charged with me ; or that 
I tak upon me to rule my selfe, for I knowe the^ ar 
most disceved that trusteth most in themselves, wher- 
fore I trust you shal never finde that faute in me, to 

• they. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 

the wiche thjuge I do not se that your Grace has maxle 
anye directe answere at this time, and seinge the* make 
so ivel reportes ahreadie, shalbe but a increasinge of 
ther ivel tonges, Howbeit you did write that if I wolde 
bringe forthe anye that had reported it, You and the 
Counsel wolde se it redreste, wiche thinge thogth I 
can easelye do it, I wolde be lothe to do it for bicause 
it is my none cause ; and, againe, that shulde be but a 
bridinge of a ivel name of me that am glade to ponesse 
them, and so get the ivel wil of the people, wiche thinge 
I wolde be lothe to have. But if it mougth so seme 
good unto your Lordeshipe and the reste of the Coun- 
sel to sende forthe a proclamation in to the countries 
that the ^ refraine ther tonges, declaringe how the tales 
be but lies, it shulde make bothe the people thinke that 
You and the Counsel have great regarde that no suche 
rumors shulde be spreade of anye of the Kinges Males- 
ties Sisters, as I am, thougth vnwordie'', and also I 
shulde thinke myselfe to receve suche frendeshipe at 
your handes as you have promised me, althogth your 
Xiordeship hathe shewed me greate ah*eadie. Howbeit 
I am aschamed to aske it anye more, bicause I se you 
ar not so wel minded therunto. And as conceminge 
that you saye that I give folkes occasion to thinke in 
refusinge the good to vpholde the ivel, I am not of so 
simple understandinge, nor I wolde that your Grace 
shulde have so ivel a opinion of me that I have so litel 

• they. ^ unworthy. 



158 tt OftlGTNAL LETTERS. 



< 



re^iecte to my none honestie that I wolde mainteme 
it if I had souficiente promis of the same, and so your 
Grace shal prove me whap it comes to the pointe. And 
thus I bid you farewel,rde8iringe God alwais to assiste 
you in al your affaires. Writen in hast. Frome Hat- 
felde this 21 of Februarye. 

Your assured frende to my litel 

power 

ELIZABETH. 

To my verey good Lorde my Lorde 
Protector. 



LETTER CLXVII. 

The Princess EUzabeth to King Edward PPI* upon his 

recovery from sickfiess. 

[harl. MS. 6986. art 12. Orig.] 



Qu6d tanto temporis intervallo t^m raras a me li- 
teras acceperis, Rex illustrissime, quibus vel gratias 
agerem pro beneficiis, vel saltern debitam meam erga te 
observantiam testatam facerem, spero facile me veniam 
impetraturam : prsesertim cum nulla admissa sit ces- 
satio oblivione iquadam tiii, cujus nunquam oblivisci 
yel possum, vel debeo. Nunc vero cum tuam Majes- 
tatem in lods non prdcul Londino sitis versari intel- 
UgauK, rumpendum mihi silentium esse duxi, ut testi- 



ORIGINAL LETTKHS. 159 

ficarer, neque de debito meo erga te cultu quicquam 
esse remissum, neque tua incolumitate quicquam mihi 
esse posse optabilius quam firmam et integram esse ex 
qu^rundam sermone cognovi. Ego sane dum singula 
Dei Optimi et Maximi beneficia mente recolo, hoc 
unum ^x omnibus maximum fuisse judico, quod te 
Londini ex proximo morbo tam subito et clementer 
restituit. In quem quidem te Dei quadam providentia 
lapsum esse arbitror, quemadmodum proximis Uteris 
ad tuam Majestatem scripsi,; ut ompi morborum ma- 
teria pulsa, tu hujusce regni habenis tractandis quam- 
, diutissime servareris. Nihil aeque incertum aut minUs 
diutumum qu^m vita hominis, nimirum qui Pindari 
testimonio nihil sit aliud, quam vmbrae somnium. £t 
homine, vt ait Homerus, nihil terra aUt fragilius. 
Cum itaque cujusque hominis vita tot tantisque casi^ 
bus non modo sit exposita, sed etiam vincatur, singu^ 
lari quadam divinse providentise dementia et morbum 
{»reteritum abs te depulsum, et in istis locorum (quos 
a morbis non plane immunes fuisse cognovi) et aeris 
mutationibus tam crebris ab omnibus omnium mor* 
bcxrum periculis te servatum esse judicamus. Cui pror 
videndae Majestatis tuae tutelam committo, simulque 
rogo ut eandem quamdiutissime incolumem servet. 
Ashrigiae 20 Septembris. 

Majestatis tuse humillima soror 

ELIZABETA. 

lilustrissimo & Nobilissimo 
R^ Eklouardo Sexto. 



160 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CLXVIII. 

Princess Elizabeth to her brother King Edw. VI. 

[hakl. MS. 6986. art. II. Orig.] 



Quod ante hoc tempus nullas ad tuam Maiestatem 
literas dedmm. Rex sereniss. & illustriss. nullasque 
pro singulari ilia humanitate fratemoque amore coram 
mihi exhibitis gradas egerim, id queso ne aut benefi- 
ciorum oblivioni, quae absit, aut segnitiei, quae mini- 
me decet, sed aliis eausis justissimis attribuendum esse 
existimet. Nam dum ad tuam Majestatem seribere 
«8spe conarer, corporis valetudo aliquantum adversa 
maxime vero capitis dolor ab incepto revocavit. Quo 
nomine spero tuam Celsitudinem meum erga se ani*- 
inum literar. vice accepturam esse. Qui quidem ani- 
mus non tarn ex ore quam ex corde profectus debitani 
quandam erga tuam Maiestatem observantiam & fidem 
declarabit. Verum haec ego re ipsa & factis potius 
quam verbis a te cognosci cupio. Quod ut fiat ego 
omnibus viribus contendam. Quemadmodum enim 
aurum ubi igni excoctum & a scoria probe expurga- 
tum fuerit, tum demum certo dignoscitur, sic opera 
cujuscunque hominis animum certissimo arguunt. 
Porro qiiod reliquum est ago tuae Majestati gratias 
quam possum maximas, quod non tantum praesentem 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 161 

prsesens omnibus humanitatis officiis prosecuta sit, ve- 
rumetiam nunc absens suum erga me absentem ani- 
mum annulo misso testatum fecerit. Ex quo intelli- 
gere potui promissi memoriam tuse Majestati reiricare 
minime opus fuisse, non solum quia vt ne facerem tua 
Celsitudo jusserit, verumetiam propter ostensam** mi- 
hi benevolentiam de qua non dubitavi antea. Deus 
conservet tuam Majestatem qui incolumem & eandem 
(vt facere cepit) ad maximar. virtutum incrementa pro^ 
Tehat. Enfeldise, 14 februarij. 

Maj^statis tuse humillima 

serva & soror 

ELIZABETA. 

Excelentissimo & nobiiiss : 
R^ Edouardo Sexto. 



LETTER CLXIX. 



The Princess Mary to one of the 

King's Council^ 

[us. LANSD. 1236. foL 28. Orig.] 



It is no small greyf to me to parceyve that they 
whom the Kyngs Ma.^ my father (whose soule Grod 

• The word ** monttratam" was first inserted here bat obliterated. 

*» Probably about 1551. 

TOL. II. . M 



162 OJIIOINAL LETTERS. 

pardon) made in thys worlde of nothyng in respecte 
of that they he oomme to nowe^ and at hys last ende 
put in truste to se hya Wyll p^rfpunned» wherunto 
they were all sworne upon a bpke ; it gryeveth me I 
mjf for the love I beare to theym, to se both howe 
they breake his Wyll, sead yrhai usurped power they 
take upon theym, in makyng (as they call it) lawe9 
both cle^n contrarye to hys procedyngs and Wyll, and 
also ageynst the ooustome of all crystendcnne, and (in 
my conscyenee) ageynst the lawe of God and hys 
Chyrche, whiche passeth all the reste. But thoughe 
you, among you, have forgotten the Kyng my father, 
yet bptbe Gods commandment and Nature wyll not 
suffre me to do so ; wherfore wyth Gods helpe I wyll 
remayne an obedyent chylde to his lawes as he lefte 
theym, tyll suche tyme as the Kyngs Majestic my 
brother shall have parfayt y&rs of discrecyon to ordre 
the power that God hath sent hym, and to be a Jpdge 
in theyse matters hym Self; and I doubte not but he 
shall then accept my so doyng bettre then theyrs which 
have taken a pece of his power vpon theym in his 
mynoryte. 

I do not alitle mervayle that you can fynde fawte 
with me for observyng of that lawe whiche was allowed 
by hym that was a Kyng not only of power, but also 
of knowledge howe to order hys pow«r, to whiche 
lawe all you consented, and semed at that tyme to the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 163 

outwarde apparance very well to lyke the same, and 

could 

that you can fynde no fawte* all this whiell w^ some 
amongste your selfes, for runnyng halfe a yere befor 
that which you nowe caU a lawe, ye and before the by- 
8ho{^ cam togyther, wherin me thynketh you do me 
very mychie wrong if I shuld not have asmyche pre- 
emjnexice to contynew in kepyng a full authorysed 
lawe made without parcyalyte, as they had, bothe to 
breake the lawe which at that tyme your selfes muste 
neds confesse was of full power and strenghe, and to 
vse alteracyons of theyr owne Invencyon contrarye 
both to that ye** and to your newe lawe as you call it. 



LETTER CLXX. 

The Princess Elizabeth to the Princess Mary, 

[us, LAirsD. 1236. foL 89. Orig.] 



Good Sistar as to hire of your siknes is unpleasant 
to me, so is it nothinge feareful, for that I understande 
it is your olde gest that is wont oft to viset you, whose 
comminge thogth it be oft, yet is it never welcome, 

• An alteration, or rather an addition, occurs here in the margin. The whole in 
the Princess Mary's hand ; but imperfect 

" . . d more . . mediatly . . . kyng diet . . . ons to have . . . 

ycocedyngs observed ; whurfor I do wonder that you can fynde fawlte with me Ac. 
Bon all thys whiel"— Possibly the whole of this Letter, though entirely in the Piiu- 
oess's hand, is but a rough Draft. 

k A w(»d seems here to have been omitted. 



164 OEIGINAL LETTERS. 

but notwithstanding it is comforttable for that " jo^ula 
praevisa minus feriunt.^ And as I do understande 
your nede of Jane Russels service, so am I sory that 
it is by mans occasion letted, wiche if I had knowen 
afore, I wold have caused his wil give place to nide of 
her service, for as it is her duty to obey his com- 
mandement, so is it his part to attende your pleasure ; 
and, as I confesse, it wer miter* for him to go to her, 
sins she attendes uppon you, so indide he required 
the same, but for that divers of his felowes had busi- 
nes abrode, that made his tarijnge at hon>e. Good 
Sistar thogth I have good cause to thanke you for 
your oft sendinge to me, yet I have more occasion to 
rendre you my harty thankes for your gentil writinge, 
wiche how painful it is to you, I may wel gesse by my 
selfe, and you may wel se by my writinge so oft, how 
pleasant it is to me. And thus I ende to troble you, 
desiring God to sende you as wel to do, as you can 
thinke and wische, or I desire or pray, Frome Ha- 
sherige scribled this 27* of October. 

Your lovinge sistar 

ELIZABETH. 

To my welbeloved sistar 
Marye. 

• meter. 



OKIGINAL LETXlIKh 165 

LETTER CLXXI. 

The Princess Mary to . . , 

[m8. cottow. vesp. f. hi/ foL 19 b. Ong.] 



My Lorde, after my moste harty commendacyons, 
bicause I can not convenyently wyth my moutK ren- 
dre unto you in presence those thanks for the great 
goodnes I fynde in you dayly that the same dothe 
worthely deserve, I thoughte it my parte of congru- 
ence at the lest, by thise my rude letters, to advertise 
you that of my good wyll and prayour to do you stede 
or pleasur, you shalbe ever duryng my lief assured ; 
whiche I truste your gentylnes wyll yet accept in 
worthe, consideryng it is all that I have wherwyth I 
canne repaye any parte of that chardge and parfaite 
frendshipe that I have and do fynde in you : hartily 
requyryng your contynuance, whiche besyds the pur- 
chasyng of my tedious sutes, wherwyth I do ever mo- 
lest you, shalbe my great comforte. And thus I be- 
seche God to sende you aswell to fare as I wold wyshe 
my selfe. At Rychemonde this Thursday nyghte. 

Your assured lovyng frende 

duryng my lief 

MABYE. 



166 OHIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CLXXII. 

Divers Lords of the Council in London^ to the CoimcU 
at Windsor J professing their purpose to remove the 
Duke of Somerset from the Protectorship, a. d. 1549. 

[cALio. B. VII. foL 404. Orig,\ 

*0* This and the three foUowing lietteis relate to the Conspiracy in 
the Privy Council of King Edward the Sixth, which brought on the first 
fan of the Protector Somerset Stow, in his Annals, edit. 1631. p. 597* 
has printed two or three other Letters which complete the Series reiating 
to this event " On the sixt day of October," says Stow, " in the mom. 
ing, the Earl of Warwick with other Lords of the Council, sent for the 
Lord Mayor and the Aldermen of London, to his place in Holbome, 
where was declared to them, by the Lord Chancellor and other of the 
King's Council, divers abuses of the Lord Protector, concerning the 
Kings person, and his affairs both in England and also in Scotland, and 
other his places beyond the Seas. And that afternoon was kept a Court 
of the Aldermen in the Guildhall, where was shewed a Letter finom the 
King and the Lord Protector, for to have one thousand men of the City 
well harnessed with weapons, for defence of the King's Majestie's person. 
And another Letter also from the Lords of the Council, to have two 
thousand men to ayde them, for defence of the King's person : and iilso^ 
that the Citie should be well kept with watches both day and night And 
the same sixt day, the King being at Hampton Court, the Lord Protector 
caused Proclamations to be made in divers Townes near to the Court, for 
men to ayde the King against the Lords, and also sent Letters to divers 
towns to the same ^ect; whereupon great assemblies of people were 
made at Hampton Court. And in the night of the same day he conveyed 
the King to Windsor, with a great number of horsemen and fotemen." 



My Lords, after our right hartie commendacions, 
understanding what false, untrue, and slaunderous 
bills, rumors, and reaports be spred in many places, 
by meanes of the Duke of Somerset and his adhe- 
rents, of the cause of our assemblee ; and being togi- 



ORIGINAL L£TT£&S. 167 

ther, we have first thought good, f assure your Lord- 
ships of our honoiirs, trouth, and fidelities to God and 
the King's Ma*«; that we mean nothing ells but th^ 
suertie of his Mttjestie's person, our most gracious So- 
vereign Lord; the preservacion of his honor^ and the 
good govemaunce of his Majestie'^s realmes^ and do- 
minions ; and, for none other cause, we take God to 
witnes. If the Duke of Somerset Woold at atiy tyme 
have hard our advises^ if he woold have hard reason, 
and knowledged himself a subject, our meanings was 
to have quietly communed with him for redresse of 
all things without any disturbance of the realm ; but 
knowing afterwards that the said Duke goeth about 
to reyse great forces and nombers of men, to sprede 
abrode slaunderous and untrue reaports of us moche 
contrary to our honors and reputations, we wer forced 
for the meting therwith, against our wills t'assemble, 
lyke as it greveth us to see what daungCT and perill 
may ensue to th'ole Realme thoroqgh diyisidn amongs 
ourselfs, we have lykewise thought good to signifie unto 
you that if the said Duke will, as becometh a good sub- 
ject absent himself from his Majestie, be contented to 
be (M*dred according to Justice and reason, and disperse 
that force which is levied by him, we will gladly com- 
mon with you touchii^ the suertie of his Majestie's 
person, and order of all other things, wherin we no- 
thing doubt, whatsoever hath byn otherwise untruely 
reaported, you shall fynde us bothe conformable and 



168 ORIGINAL LETT£KS. 

redy to do as becommeth good subjects and true 
counsellors; nothing doubting to fynd the like con- 
formitie also on your behalfs. Otherwise, if we sfaaU 
see that you mynd more the mayntenaunce of that 
one mans ill doings then th^execution of his Majesties 
Lawes and commen order, we must make other ac- 
compt of you then we trust we shall have cause. 

Consider, my Lords, for Godd'^s sake, we hartely 
pray you, that we be almost the hole Counsell, men 
^ that have byn to moche bounden by sundry benefits 
to forget our duties to the Kings Majestic, for whom 
we do that we do, and will gladly spend our lyves for 
his suertie. If you forsake to come to this good and 
peaxable agrement, we must protest that the incon- 
veniences which may ensue upon stirre must grow of 
yow, the daunger wherof we assuredly know is to none 
of yow unknowen. Thus praying Grod to send us and 
yow grace to doo thatt may most conduce to his glorie 
and wealth of the Realme we bydd yow hartely fare 
well. From London this vij**^ of October 1549. 

Yo'' assured loving freends 

B. BYCHE CcmC. W. SAINT JOHN. W. NOBTHT. 

J, WAEWYK. ABUNDELL. F. SHBEWESBUBY. 

THOMAS SOUTHAMPTON. 
kk T. CHEYNE. WILLIAM PETBE. EDWABD NOBTH. 
JOHN GAGE. B. SADLEYB. 

BIC. SOUTHWELL. NICHOLAS WOTTON. 



OKIGIKAL LETTKKS. 169 



LETTER CLXXIII. 

The Lords of the Council in London to those at Wind- 
sor , respecting the ca/re of the King's person, 

[ms. cotton, calio. b. VII. fbl. 408. Or%gJ\ 



* My Lords, after our most harty commendacions, 
we have received your Lettres by M*". Hobby, and 
herd such credence as he declared on the King^s 
Majesties and your behaulf unto us. Th'^aunswers 
whereunto becawse they may at more lenngth appere 
to You both by our Lettres to the Kings Majestie and 
by report also of the said M^ Hobby e we forbeare to 
repete here againe, most hartely prayeng and requiring 
your Lordships and every of you, and nevertheles 
charging and comauiiding you in the Kings Majesties 
name to have a cont)mual earnest wache, respect, 
and care to the suretie of the Kings Majestie our 
natural ^and most gracious Soveranne lords persone, 
and that he be nat removed from his Majesties castel 
of Wyndesour, as you tender your dueties to Al- 
mighty God and his Majestie, and as you will aun- 
swer for the contrary at your uttermost perills. We 
are moved to call earnestly upon you herein, nat with-« 
out grete cawse, and, amongs many others, we can 
nat but remembre unto you that it appearith very 
straunge unto us and a grcte wonder to all true sub- 



170 OmiUlNAI. LKTTSRS. 

jects that you will either assent cm* suffer his Majes- 
ties most rojall peraone to remaine in the garde of the 
Duke ci Somersetts men, sequestred fixxn his old 
swome servaunts. It seemith straunge that in his 
Majesties owne Hqwse strangers shuld be armed with 
his Majestie^s owne armour, and be nearest abowte 
his Highnes persone ; and those to whome the ordy- 
nary charge is oonmiitted, sequestred away so as they 
may nat attende according to their swome duetyes. 
If any evyll come thereof ye can consider to whome it 
must be imputed. Ones the exemple is very straunge 
and periUous. And now my Lords, if you tender the 
preservacion of his Majestie and the State, joyne with 
us to that ende. We have wryttea to the Ejngs Ma- 
jestie by which way things may sone be quyetly and 
rooderatly compounded ; in the doing whereof we 
mynde to doo none otherwise then we would be dooa 
unto, and that with as much moderacion and favour 
as we honorably maye. We trust none of you hath 
juste cawse to note any oon of us, and much lesse all 
of such crueltye as you so many tymes make mention 
of. Oon thing in youre Lettres we mervayle much at, 
which is that you write that you knowe more than we 
knowe. If the matters comen to your knowl^e and 
bidden from us be of such waight as you seme to pre- 
tafide, or if they towche or may toucfae his Majestie 
or the State, we thinke you do not as you ought in 
that ye have not disclosed the same unto us being the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 171 

hole State of the Counsail. And thus prayeng God 
to s^ide you the Grace to do that may tende to the 
surety of the Kings Majestie and tranquillite of the 
Realme, we bidde you hartely farewell. From Westm. 
the ix* of Octobre 1649. 

Yo'^ assured loving frends 

B. KTCHE Cane. W. 8EINT JOHN. W. NOBTHT. 
ARUNDELL. F. SHREWESBUBY. 

THOMAS SOUTHAMPTON. T. CHEYNE. 

JOHN GAGE. WILLIAM PETBE. EDWABI) NOBTH. 
EDWABD MOUNTAGU. B. SADLEYB. NICHOLAS WOTTON. 
BIC. SOUTHWELL. JO. BAKJBB* 



LETTER CLXXIV. 



ArcJMshop Cnmmer^ Sir WiUiam Paget, and Sir 
Thonms Smith to the Lords qf the Council in 
London^ offering terms qf accommodation. 

[ms. cotton, calio. b. VII. foL 412. Orig,] 



It may lyke your good Lordshyps, with our most 
harty commendacions, to understand that this momyng 
Sir Phillip Hobby hath, according to the charge gyven 
to hym by your Lordships, presented your Letters to 
the Kings Majestie in the presence of us and all the 
rest of his Magisties good servants here, which was 



172 OKIGIXAL LtTTKKsf. 

there redde openly ; and also the others to them of 
the chambre and of the household, moche to tlieyr 
comforts and ours also ; and according to the tenors 
of the same we will not faile to endevor ourselfs ac- 
cordingly . . Now tooching the mervaile of your 
Lordships both of that we wold suffire the Duke of 
Somersetts men to garde the Kings Majestie^s persone 
and also of our often repeting the worde cruel . . Al- 
though we doubt not but that your Lordships hath 
bene thorowly enformed of our estates here, and up- 
pon what occasions the one hath bene sufired, and the 
other proceded, yet at our convenjnig togider (which 
may be when and where please you) we will and are 
able to make your Lordships such an Accompt as 
wherewith we doubt not you wilbe satisfyed if you 
think good to require it of us. And for bycause this 
berar M"^. Hobby can particulerly enforme your Lord- 
ship of the hole discourse of all things here, we remitt 
the reaport of all other things to hym, saving that we 
desyre to be advertised with as moch spede as you 
shall think good, whether the Kings Majestic shall 
cum furthwith thither, or remayn stil here ; and that 
sum of your Lordships woold take payn to cum hither 
furthwith ; for the which purpose I the comptroller 
will cause thre of the best chambres in the gret court 
to be hanged and made redy. Thus thankyng God 
that all things be no wel acquieted we committ your 



OSI6IXAL LETTERS. 173 

Ltordships to his tuycion. From Wjmdsor the x^ of 
October 1549 

Your Lordshyps assured loving frends 

T. CANT. WILLIAM PAGET. 

T. SMITH. 

To our verie good 
Lords and others of 
the Kings Majesties Privie 
Cownsell at London. 



LETTER CLXXV. 

The Lords of the Council in London^ to Sir William 
Paget^ comptroller of the Hottsehold respecting the 
sqfetyof the person of King Edward Vri" ; andurg- 
ing him to cause the Duke of Somerset to be appre- 
hended, 

[ms. cotton, calig. b. VII. foL 410. Orig.l 

*J* It is singular that this Letter should have been addressed to Sir 
William Paget, who, with Cranmer and Sir Thomas Smith, was supposed 
most strenuously to have adhered to the Duke of Somerset. But as will 
be seen in the latter part of this Letter, a message had been delivered by 
Sir William Paget's servant stating that Somerset might easily be appie- 
hended. The arrest which was directed in consequence was not violently . 
made : for though Somerset and some of his friends and partisans were 
sent prisoners to the Tower, it was, at least on his part, by capitulation". 

» " Articles offbrid by me the Lord Protector to the Kings Majestie, in the presence 
of hiK Highnes Counsail, and other his Majesties Lords and Gentlemen at Wyndesor 
to be declared on my behalf to the Lords and the rest of his Highnes Counsail re> 
raayning at London. 

'* Fiirst that I do not, nor did not meane to apprehend any of them, or otherwise 
to distiirbe or molest them, but hering tell of their suche meetings and assembles 
and gathering of horsemen and other power owt of scverall Countreys, not being * 
privie of the causes therof, t'avoid further ioconvenyences. and danger which mighc 
ensue to your Majesties person, which by many rumors, certain intelligences, and 
fiundrie messages was declared immynent unto your Highnes, and to me the Lnrde 
Protector, was forced to seke tliii defence as I at the furst banning declared unto 
your Highnes. * 



174 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

On the 1 VK of October, Sir Anthony Wingfield, captain of the Gruaid, 
was sent to Windsor to the King, to detach the Lord Protector from his 
person ; who caused the guard to watch his Majesty till the coming of the 
Lords. *^ On the morrow," says Stow, ^' the Lovd Chancellor, with the 
rest of the Council rode to Windsor to die King, and that night the Loid 
Pnrtectot was put in ward into Beauchamp*s tower in the Castle of 
Windsor." On the 14*. of October he was brought from Windsor to 
the Tower of London. 



Aftee our most harty cotnmendations, we have 
hard the Credence declared unto us by Bedill your 
servant, by the which wee doo well understand your 
wyse and stowt doings for the suertye of the Kings 
Majesties person our most gracious Soveraigne Lorde; 
for whos only suertye and preservation of His Majes- 
tie^s realme and subjects, lyke as wee have entred thies 
busines, so do we give you our most harty thapks for 
your good travayll to the same ende. And ffor the 
rest wee have declared our mynds att more lenght to 
our loving freends M*: Vicechamberlayn Knight to 

** Secondly, that this force and power which here is assembled abowt your Majes- 
tU atttib present, istodonoDA of them whidi be there at London or dse when eiflMr 
^^ pefson ox goods any damage or hurt, but to defend only if any viploiee ahpuld be 
attempted against your Hijghnes. As for any oontendoii and itrief betwixt me the 
Lorde Protector and the Counsail there, I do not reAise to come to any reasonable 
ei|ie and concluaion that shuldbefor the preservadon of your Majeatie and tnoH' 
quiU^ie of the lUsdme, if they will send any two of them with Commt^aion on ttiair 
behalb to conclude and make a good end betwixt us. And I most humbly besedie 
your Majf stle to appoinct any two of sudie as be here about your Majestie to jk>yne 
with the same : and whatsoever these fowre^ or thre of them, shall determyn, I do and 
shall holy and fully submit myself therunto. And that for more oonformadon, if it 
thalbe so thought good to the said persones, their agreament and condu^n to be 
established and ratified by Parlyament or any other order that shalbe deviaed. 

'* And I beseche your Majestie that at my humble sute and by th'adviseof me and 
others of your Counsail here for the bettor prooedings herin, and to take away all 
doubts and feares that might arise to grant to them, for uiy such two of them which 
they shall send for the purpose abovesaid, fire passage for them sdft and witt edie of 
them xxtt of their servants to saufly come* tarry here, and retom at their pleasure. 
And I moat humbly beseche your Majestie that thia 9111 signed with your Vb^atis^n 
hands and owres may be a suflkient warrant therefore. Given and exhibited at tht 
Castle of Wtndesore the viijt^. of October 1540." MS. Cotton. Calig. B. y ii. fol. 4I0T. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 175 

whom wee pray you to give ferme credence : and so 
bydd yow most hartely well to fare. From London 
this X* of October 1549. 

Your assured loving ^ 
Freends 

R. RYCHE Cane. W. SEINT JOHN. W. NORTHT. 

J. WARWYK. F. SHREWESBURY. 

THOMS SOUTHMFTON. £. WENTWORTH. 

JOHN GAGE. WILL**!;! PETRE. 
EDWARD NORTH. EDWARD MOUNTAGU. R. SADLEYR. 
NICHOLAS WOTTON. 

Wee wold also thatt if yow shall see any good opor- 
tunite for this purpose, and if it may be conveniently 
doon, as by your servant^s Message it semed, thatt the 
bodie of the Duk may be apprehendyd, thatt he shuld 
be apprehendyd by M', Vicechamberlajm and ther 
kept in suertye till wee shall take furthar order. We 
wold also the lyke to be doon with M'. Smyth, M*" 
Thyn, Whalley, and Cycill*. 

R. RYCHE Cane, W. SEINT JOHN. W. NORTHT. 
J. WARWYK. F. SHREWESBURY. 

THOMS SOUTHAMPTON. E. WENTWdRTH. 

WILL''m PETRE. JOHN GAGE. 

EDWARD NORTH. EDWARD MOUNTAGU. 

R. SADLEYR. RIC. SOUTHWELL. NICHOLAS WOTTON. 

To 0^. very Loving freend S' William Paget 
knighte of th'Order^ GoQipitroUer of the 
Kings Majestie's Most honorable Howse. 

• Afterwards L<Mrd Burghlcy. 



176 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CLXXVI. 

The Princess Mary to King Edward the Sixth upon 
receiving the prohilntion to use the Mass in her 
HouseJiold. 

[ms. haul. 352. foL 186.] 

*^* The following Letter from the Princess Mary to her brother, is 
preserved upon the Books of the Privy Councfl. It is probably the best 
specimen which we have in our power to give of her talent at writing: 
and, with the singular Paper which follows it by way of conoment, will 
show her to have been a woman of more intellect than the world has 
usually supposed. Queen Catherine Parr took great pains in the educa- 
tion both of Mary and Elizabeth. 

Robert Rochester the comptroller, with M^ Walgrave and Sir Frand» 
Englcfield, two of the officers of the Lady Mary's household, were com- 
manded, August 14^. 1551, by the Lords of the King's Council to pro- 
ceed to Copt Hall in Essex, where she then resided. They were directed 
to call her Grace's chaplains before them, and not only to forbid, on their 
part, the saying of the Mass, but to prevent any (Hie of the householdfrom 
presuming to hear mass or any other forbidden rites. They went, it ap- 
pears, but neglected to execute the chief part of their commissicm; bringing 
back with them the following Letter addressed to the King. 



My dutye moste humbly remembred unto your Ma- 
jestic. It maye please the same to be advertysed that 
I have by my servantes receaved your moste honora^ 
ble Letter, the contentes wherof doe not a litle trouble 
me, and so much the more for that any of my servants 
should move or attempte me in matteres towching my 
sowle, which I thinke the meaneste subjecte within 
your Realme could evell beare at their servantes hande; 
haviiige for my parte utterly refused heretofor to talke 
with them in such matteres, and of all other persones 
leaste regarded them therein; to whom I have de- 
clared what I thinke as she which trusted that your 



OKIGIXAL LETTEKS. 177 

Majestie would have suffered me your poore humble 
sister and beadeswoman to have used the accustomed 
Masse, which the Kinge your father and myne with 
all his predecessores evermore used; wherin also I have 
been brought upp from my youth, and therunto my 
conscyence doth not only bynde me, which by noe 
meanes will suffer me to thinke oae thing and do 
another, but also the promise made to the Emperore 
by your Majesties Counsell was an assurance to me 
that in so doinge I should not offend the Lawes, al- 
though they seeme now to quallefye and deny the 
thing. 

And at my laste waytinge upon your Majestie I was 
so bould to declare my mynd and conscyence to the 
same, and desired your Highnes, rather then you 
should constraine me to leave the Masse, to take my 
life, whereunto your Majestie made me a very gentle 
answere. 

And nowe I beseche your Highnes to give me leave 
to write what I thinke towching your Majesties Let- 
teres. In deed they be signed with your owne hand, 
and neverthelesse in my oppinione'not your Majesties 
in effecte, because it is well knowne (as heretofore I 
have declared in the presence of your Highnes) that 
ttlthoughe. Our Lorde be praysed, your Majestie hath 
farre more knowledge and greater guiftes then otheres 
of your yeares, yett it is not possyble t];iat your High- 
nes can at theis yeares be a judge in matters of Reli- 

VOL. II. ' N 



ITS OBIGTXAL X.ETTEBS. 

geon. And therefore I take it that the matter in your 
Letter procedeth from such as do wish those thinges 
to take place, ^ich be moste agreeable to thaoaselves; 
by whose doinges (your Majestie not offended) I in^ 
tend not to rule my Conscyence. 

And thus, without molestynge your Highnes any 
further^ I humblye beseedie the same ever, for Gods 
sake, to beare with me as you have done^ and not to 
thinke that by my doinges or ensample any inconve- 
nyence might growe to your Majestie or your Realme; 
for I use it not after any such soarte; puttyng ni> 
doubte but in tjrme to come, whether I live or die, 
your Majestie shall perceave m3me intente is grownd- 
ed upon a true love towardes you, whose royall estate 
I beseech Almightie God longe to contynewe, which 
is and shalbe my daylie prayer, accordinge to my 
dutye. 

And after pardon craved of your Majestie for thes 
rude and boulde Letteres, yf neither at my humble 
suite, nor for regard of the promisse made to the Em* 
peror, your Highnes will suffer and beare with me, as 
you have done, tyll yoiu- Majestie may be a Judge 
herein yourselfe, and right understand their proceed* 
inges, (of which your goodness yet I dispaire not,) 
otherwise, rather then to offend God and my con* 
scyence I offer my bodye at your will, and death shall 
be more welcome than lyfe with a trowbeled conssy- 
enee. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 179 

Moste humbly beseching your Majestic to pardoA 
my slowenes in answeringe your Letteres, for my 
owlde deseasse ^ould not suffer me to write any soner. 
And thus I praye Almightie God to keepe your Ma- 
jestic in alle vertue and honor, with good health and 
longe lyfe to his pleasure. From my poore howse at 
Copped Hall the xix of Auguste. 

Your Majestie'^s moste 

humble sistere 

MARY. 



Oir the 23<* of August, four days after the receipt of this Letter, the 
same officers being again directed to execute the charge they had received 
on the 14'^, declined to proceed. Rochester and Walgrave voluntarily 
offering rather to endure imprisonment ; and Sir Francis Englefield al« 
lodging upon his part, that he could find neither in his heart nor his 
consdenoe to do it Whereupon it was determined that the Lord Chan- 
cellor Ricfae, M'. Sebretary Petre, and Sir Anthony Wingfield the 
oomptroiller of the King's household, should repair together to the Lady 
Mary's Gb»oe, with the King's letters. They did so, and the following 
was the Report of her Grace's answer. 

^^ A Note of the Report of the Message done to the Lady Mary's Grace 
Vy us the Lord Riche Lord Chancellor of England, Sir Anthony Wing, 
field Knight of the Order and Comptroller of the King's Majesty's most 
honorable Household, and William Peeter, Knight, one of his M'ajestjr's 
two principal Secretaries ; and of her Grace's Answer to the same ; re- 
ported by us all three to the^Kiog's Majesty and the Lords of his Majesty's 
Privy Council at Windsor, the 29'**. day of August Anno 1551. 

'^ First having received Commandment and Instructions from the Eling's 
Hi^esty we repaired to the said Lady Mary's House at Copped Hall in 
Essex on Friday last, being the 28^. of Uiis instant in the Morning, 
where, shortly after our coming, I the Lord Chancellor delivered his Ma- 
jesty's Letters to her, which she received upon her knees, saying that for 
the honor of the King's Majesty's hand, wherewith the said Letters were 
signed, she would kiss the Letter ; and not for the matter contained in 
them, for the matter, said she, I take to proceed not from his Majesty but 
from you his CoundL 

^9. 



180 OKKilXAL LETTERS. 

'•" In the reading of the Letter, which she did read secretly to her self, 
she said these words in our hearing, ' Ah ! good M*^. Cecil took much 
paioft here.* 

^^ Wlien she had read the Letter, we hegan to 6pen the matter of oui 
Instructions unto her, and as I the Lord Chancellor began^ she prayed me 
to be short, for, said she, I am not well at ease, and I will make you a 
short answer, notwithstanding that I have already declared and written my 
mind to his Majesty plainly with my own hand. 

*'*' After this we told her at good length how the King's Majesty having 
used all the gentle means and exhortations that he might ta have reduced 
her to the Rites of Religion and Order of Divine service set forth by the 
laws of the realm, and finding her nothing conformable, but still remaining 
in her former error, had resolved by the whole estate of his Majesty's Privy 
Council, and with the consent of divers others of the Nobility, that she 
should no longer use the private Mass, nor any other divine Service than 
is set forth by the Laws of the Realm ; and here we offered to show her 
the Names of all thos^ which were present at this consultation and resolu- 
tion ; but she said she cared not for any rehearsal of their names, for, said 
she, I know you be all of one sort therein. 

" We told her further that the King's Majesty's pleasure was we should 
also give strait charge to her Chaplains, that none of them should presume 
to say any Mass, or other divine service than is set fbrth by the Laws of the 
Realm, and like charge to all her servants that none of them shulde pre- 
sume to hear any Mass or other divine service than is aforesaid.. Here- 
unto her answer was thus. First she protested that to the Kingli Majesty 
she was, is, and ever will be his Majesty's most humble and most obedient 
subject and poor Sister, and would most willingly obey all his conmiand- 
ments in any thing (her conscience saved,) yea and would willingly and 
gladly suffer death to do his Majesty good ; but rather than she will agree 
to use any other service than was used at the death of the late King her 
father, she would lay her head on a block and suffer death. But, said she, 
I am unworthy to suffer death in so good a quarreL TVhen the King's 
Majesty (said she) shall come to such years tltat he may be able to judge 
these things himself, his Majesty shall find me ready to obey his orders in 
religion, but now in these years, although he good sweet King have more 
knowledge than any other of his years, yet is it not possible that he can Be 
a judge of these things ; for if ships were to be sent to the seas, or any 
other thing to be d^ne touching the policy and government of the Realm, 
I am sure you would not think his Highness yet able to consider what were 
to be done, and much less, said she, can he in these years discern what is 
fit in matters of divinity. And if my Chaplains do say no Mass I can hear 
none, no mere can my poor servants. But as for my servants I know it 
Bhall be against their wills, as it shall be against myne, for if they could come 



OKIOINAL LETTERS. 181 

where it wore said tlu y would hear it witli good will, and as for my priests 
they know what they have to do, the pain of your Laws is but imprison- 
ment for a short time, and if they wiU refuse to say Mass for fear of that 
imprisonment they may do therein as they will ; but non of your ncwc 
service, said she, shall be used in my House, and if any be said in it, I 
will not tarry in the house. 

'^ And after this we declared imto her Grace, according to our Instruc- 
tions, for what causes the Lords of the King^s Majesty's Council had ap- 
pointed Rochester, Ing^efeild, and Walgrave, being her servants to open 
the premisses unto her, and how ill and untruly they had used themselves in 
the charge committed unto them, and, besides that, how they had mani- 
festly disobeyed the King's Majesty's Council, &c. To this she said it 
was not the wisest council to appoint her servants to control her in her 
own house, and that her servants knew her mind therein well enough, for 
of all men she might worst endure any of diem to move her in any such 
matters ; and for their punishment, my Lords may use them as they think 
good, and if they refused to do the message unto her and her chapliBns 
and servants as aforesdid, they be, said she, the honester men, for they 
should have spoke against tibieir own consciences. 

^' After this when we had at good length declared unto her the effect of 
our Instructions touching the promise which she claimed to have been 
made to the Emperor, and besides had opened unto her at good length all 
such things as we knew and had heard therein ; her answer was that she 
was well assured the promise was made to the Emperor^ and that the same 
was once granted before the King's Majesty in her presence, then being 
there seven of the Council, notwithstanding the denial thereof at my last 
being with his Majesty ; and I have, quoth she, the Emperor's hand tes- 
tifying that this promise was made, which I believe better than you all of 
the Council. And though you esteem little the Emperor, yet should you 
shew move favour to me for my father's sake, who made the more part of 
you, almost of nothing. But as for the Emperor, said tdie, if he were 
dead I would say as I do. And if he would give me now other advice I 
would not follow it, notwithstanding, quoth she, to be plain with you, his 
Ambassador shall know how I am used at your hands. 

*'*' After this we opened the King's Majesty^s pleasure, for one to attend 
upon her Qrsxe for Uie supply of Rochester's place, during his absence, &c. 
as in the Instructions. To this her answer was that she would appoint 
her own officers, and that she had years sufficient for that purpose ; and if 
we left any such man there she would go out of her gates, for they two 
would not dwell in one house. And, quoth she, I am sickly, and yet I 
will not die willingly, but will do the best I can to preserve my life ; but if 
I shall chance to die, 1 will protest openly that you of the Council be the 
causes of my death : you give me fair words but your deeds be always ill 



18^ URIGINAL LETTERS. 

towards me. And having said thus, she departed ftt>m us into her bed- 
chamber, and delivered to mc the Lord Chancellor a hing, upon her knees, 
most humbly, with very humble recoomiendations, sa3ring that she would 
die his true subject and sister, and obey his Commandments in all things 
except in these matters of Religion, touching the Mass and the new 
service. But yet, said she, this shall never be told to the King's Ma- 
jesty, &c. 

^' After herdeparture we called tSe Chaplains and the rest of her House, 
hold before us, giving them strait commandment, upon pain of their aUe- 
gianoe, that neither the priests should from henceforth say any Mass, or 
other divine service than that which is set forth by the Laws of ihe Realm, 
nor that they the residue of the servants should presume to hear any. 

^' The Chaplains, after some take, promised all to obey the King's 
Majesty's commandment signified by us* 

«« We gave like commandment to them and every of them, vCpan. their 
allegiance, to give notice to some one of the Council, at the least, if any 
mass or other divine service than that which is set forth by the Laws of 
this Realm, should be hereafter said in that House. 

^' Finally when we had said and done as is aforesaid, and were gone out 
ef the house, tarrying there for one of her Chaplains, who was not with 
the rest when we gave the charge aforesaid unto them, the Lady Mary's 
Grace sent to us to speak with her one word at a window. "When we were 
come into the Court, notwithstanding that we offered to come up to her 
dyunber, she would needs speak out of the window, and prayed us to speak 
to the Lords of the Council that her comptroller might shortly return. 
For, said she, since his departing, I take the accounts mjrself (tf my ex- 
penoes, and learned how many loaves of bread be made of a boihel of 
wheat : and I wis my father and my mother never brought me up with 
baking and brewing. And, to be plain with you, I am weary oi mine of- 
fice, and therefore if my Lords will send mine ofBcex home, they shall do 
me pleasure ; otherwise if .they will send him to prison, I beshrew him if he 
go not to it merrily, and with a good will, and I pray God to send you to do 
well in your souls and bodies too, for some of you have but weak bodietS" 

Copped, or Copt-Hall, in Essex, whence the preceding Letter Is 
dated, had been a coimtry seat belonging to,the abbats of Waltham. The 
dissolution of the Abbey vested it in the Crown ; and it seems for a while 
to have been assigned as a residence for the Princess Mary. Queen Eli- 
sabeth granted it in the 6^. year of her reign to Sir Thomas Heneage, 
the captain of her guard. The old House was taken down in 1753; and 
a new one built at a small distance from it by M'. Conyers the then pos- 
sessor. 

• Acts of Privy Couucil. Mis Harl. ut supr. 



ORIGINAL LKTTl£]lS. ISS 

LETTER CLXXVII. 

The Lady Jane Gray^ jOS Queeriy to the Marquis of 
lS[orthampt(My hieutenant cfthe Cowitff of Surrey. 

[froh the munimxitts a? loselct house. OHjg-.} 

■ *f^ This and the succeeding Letter, are two of those wMch the Lady 
Jane Gray, under the direction of the Duke of Suffolk and the Dudleys, 
addressed, at the time of her accession, to the Lieutenants of different 
Counties. A similar Letter in effi9et to the first of these, also directed 
to the Marquis of Northampton as Lieutenant of the Counties of Surrey, 
Northampton, Bedford, and Berks, is preserved among the Lansdowne 
MaDuscnpt» in the British Museum % 

The second of these Letters shows how faint was the support which the 
Lady Jane*s title met with from the heginning', and how anxious her 
portizans were to acquire strength. * 

JANE GRAY was the eldest daughter of Henry duke of Suffolk, by 
Frances daughter to Mary, second sister of King Henry tiie £igb«h ; 
and in King Henry the Eighth's will, was placed next in succession 
after the Princess Elizabeth, to the exclusion of the Scottish line, tHe off- 
spring of his ddest sister. The Lady Jane was married in the tiaoAth of 
May 1653 to Lord Guilford Dlidley, fourth son of the Duke of Nor- 
thumberland ; the duke, from views of personal aggrandisement forcing 
iSbt& Throne, against her wiD, upon his dai^hter hi law. 
. KingEdward the Sixth died July 6^^. 1553 . feur days af^ which the 
Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen. On the 14^. the Duke of Northum- 
twriaod left London to command the army agumrt the Lady Mary. Oki 
the 19^. the Couneil declared against the Lady Jane. On the 2l8*. North- 
umberland was arrested. On the 3**. of August MARY, with her sister 
Elizabeth, came to London : and on the 22^ of August Norliiumber. 
• ]and was beheadedr 

The Lady Jane and the Lord Guilford Dudley, though sentenced, still 
lemained in prison. They were not executed till February 12^^. 1654. 
The Dukfe <tf Suffolk fell upon the scaffold Feb. Idth. 



JANE THE aUENE. 

Right trustre and right welbeloved Cousen, we 
grete you well, advertising the same that where yt 



» MS. Lansd. Brit* Mus. 1236. fol. 34. 



184 ORIGINAL L£TT£KS. 

hath pleased Almighty Grod to call to his mercie out 
of this lief our derest Cousen the King your late So- 
vereigne Lorde, by reason wherof ande siiche Orde- 
nances as the said late King did establishe in his lief 
tyme for the securitie and welthe of this Realme, we 
are entrerid into our rightfuU possession of this King- 
dome, as by the last Will of our said derest Cousen, 
our late progenitor, and other severall instruments to 
that effect signed with his own hande and sealed with 
the grete Seale of this Realme in his own presence, wher- 
unto the Nobles of this realme for the most parte and 
all our Counsaill and Judges, with the Mayor and 
Aldermen of our Cytie of London, and djrvers other 
grave personages of this our Realme of England, have . 
also subscribed there names, as by the same Will and 
Instrument it maye more evi€ently and plainly apere; 
We therfore doo You to imderstand, that by th'or- 
denance and suffcraunce of the hevenly Lord and 
King, and by th'^assent and consent of our said Nobles 
and Counsellors, and others before specifyed. We doo 
this daye make our enterye into our Towre of London 
as rightfull Quene of this realme ; and have . accord- 
ingly sett furthe our proclamacions to all our loving 
subjects gyvenge them therby to understande their 
duties and allegeaunce which they now of right owe 
unto us as more amplie by the same you shall briefly 
perceyve and understand; nothing doubting, right 
trustie and right welbeloued cosen, but that you will 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 185 

indever yourself in all things to tjie uttermost of your 
powre, not only to defend our just title, but also assist 
us in our rightfull possession of this kingdome, and to 
disturbe, repell, and resist the fayned and untrue 
clayme of the Lady Mary basterd daughter to our 
grete uncle Henry the Eight of famous memory »; 
wherein as you shall doo that which to youre honor, 
truthe, and dutie aperteyneth, so shall we rdnembre 
the same unto you and yours accordingly. And our 
further pleasure is that you shall contynue, doo, and 
execute every thinge and things as our Lieutenant 
within all places, according to the tenor of the Com- 
mission addressed unto you from our late Cousen King 

f 

Edward the yj? in such and like sorte as if the same 
hadd byn, as we mynde shortdy it shal be, renued, 
and by us confirmed unHer our grete Seale unto you. 
Yeven under our Signet at our Tower of London the 
xj*^ of July, the furst yere of our Reign. 

To our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousyn 
and Counsaillor the Marquiss of Northampton our 
Lieutenant generall of our County of Surrey and to 
our trusty and welbeloved the Deputes of that 
Lieutenancy^ and the Sheriff^ the chief Justices of 
Peace and the worshipful! of that Shire. 

• This was in allusion to the Act of Parliament which Henry the Eif^hth had 
passed in the 5i9^. year of his reign, declaring the issue of his two first marriages 
illegitimate. See the Stat* of the Realm« vol. iii. p. 658. 



186 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

LETTER CLXXVIII. 

Second Letter from the Lady Jane as Queen to the 

Lieutenancy of Surrey\ 

[from the muniments at L08ELT HOUSE. Orkg,^ 



JANE THE QuENE. By the Quene. 

Trustie and wilbiloved we grete you well. Albeit 
that ouM estate in this imperiall Gfowne wherof we be 
actually and really possessed, as partely may appere by 
our Proclamacion wherin our tytle is published, is not 
ne can be in any wise doubtfull to all suche our good 
faithfuU subjects as, setting^ blynd affection apart, do 
with reason and wysdom consider the very foundadon 
and grounde of our tytle^ with the grete commodities 
therby coming thorough Gods providence to the pre- 
servacion of our Comon Weale and polycie ; yet for 
that we undrestande the Ladye Marye dothe not cease 
by Lettres in bir name, provoked therto by hir adhe- 
rents, enemyes of this realme, to publishe and notiefie 
sklanderously to dyverse of our subjects matter dero^ 
gatorye to our title and dignitie royally withe the slan- 
dre of certen of our NobiHtie and Counsell, We have 
thought mete to admonishe and exhorte You, as our 
true and, faithfuU subjects, to remayne fast in yoor 
obeysaunce and duetie to the imperiall Crowne of this 
Realme, whereof we have justely the possession ; and 
not to be removed any wise from your duetie by 

• The Seal used for this Letter was the signet of King E^dward the fiixth. The 
Amu of France and England quarterly, crowned ; with the Letters E. R. at the sides. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187 

sklanderous reports or lettres, dispersed abrode either 
by the said Lady Marye, or by hir adherence ; for 
truelye like as the Nobilitie of our Reahne, our Coun- 
sell, oure Prelats, oure Judges, and lemed men, and 
others good wise men, godly and naturall subjects, do 
remayne fast and surelye in their Allegiance towards 
us, redy to adventure their lives, landes, and goodes 
for our defence, so can a greate numbre of the same 
Nobilitie, Counsailors, and Judges truely testifye to 
all the worlde, with savetye of their conscience, howe 
carefully and emestly the late King of famous memo- 
rye our dere Cousen King Edward the Sixt from t3rme 
to tyme mentioned and provoked them partelye by per- 
swasion, partely commandements, to have suche re- 
specte to his succession if God shuld call him to his 
mercye without issue, as might be the preservacion of 
the Crowne in the hole undefyled English bloud ; and 
therfore of his owne mere motion, both by graunt of 
his Lettres patents, and by declaration of his Will, 
established the succession as it is declared by our Pro- 
clamacion. And for the testimonye herof to the satis- 
faction of suche as shall conce)rve any doubt herin, 
We understand that certen of our Nobilitie have 
written at this present, in some parte to admonishe 
You of your duties, and to testifie their knowledge of 
the truethe of our tytle and right. Wherfore we 
leave to procede further therin, being assured in the 
goodnes of God that your harts shalbe confirmed to 
owe your duetye to us your soveraigne Lady, who 



188 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

meane to preserve this Crowne of England in the 
royall blound, and out of the * of straungers 

and papists, with the defence of all you our good sub- 
jects, your lieves, lands, and goods, in our peace 
agaynst the invasions and violence of all forein or in- 
ward enemies and rebells. Yeven under our Signet 
at our Tower of London the xvj? day of July, in the 
first yere of our reigne. 

To our Trustie and welbeloved ^ 

the Shirieffj Justices of Peace^ and 
other Gentilmen of our Countie of 
Surrey, and to every of them. 



' Among the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum is a small 
Manual of Devotions in English, which if not written for, was at least in 
the possession of the Lady Jane Gray, while prisoner in the Tower. It 
contains three Notes, or short Epistles, in the lower margins of difierent 
pages. One, a wish of long life to his father from the Lord Guilford Dud- 
ley, signed with his name. The other two from the Lady Jane Gray, 
signed Jans Duddelet : one addressed to Sir John Gage the lieutenant 
of the Tower, exhorting him to a religious life ; the other to her fadier 
the Duke of Suffolk, assuring him that as she honoured him in this life 
she will pray for him in another^. 



LETTER CLXXIX. 



John Hopton Bishop of Norwich to Lord StLSsex, 

[ms. cotton. TITUS B. II. foL 160. Orig^ 

*^* The principal fact mentioned in this Letter will be best illustrated 
by a short extract from Grafton^s Chronicle, under the year 1555. 

» This Bpaee i« left in the originaL kd it. ^ See MS. Harl. 2342. 



OEIGINAL LETTERS. 189 

*^ 111 the month of March next followmg, there was in maner none other 
talk but of the great preparation that was made for the Queen^s lying in 
childbed, who had already taken up her chamber, and sundry Ladies and 
Gentlewomen were placed about her in every office of die Court In so 
moche that all the Court was full of Midwives, Nurses, and Rockers, and 
this talk continued almost half a year, and was affirmed true by some of 
her Physicians, and other persons about her, which seemed both grave and 
credible. Insomuch that divers were punished for saying the contrary. And 
moreover commandment given in all Churches for procession with suppli- 
cations and prayers to be made to ahnighty God for her safe delivery, yea 
and divers prayers were specially made for that purpose. And the said 
rumor continued so long, that at the last report was made that she was 
delivered of a Prince, and for joy thereof bells were rung, and bonfires 
made, not only in the City of London, but also in sundry places of the realm. 
But in the end, all proved clean contrary, and the joy and expectation of 
the people utterly frustrate. For shortly it was fully certified (allmost to 
all men) that the Queen was as then, neither delivered of child, nor after 
was in hope to have any. > Of this the people spake diversely. Some said 
' that the rumor of the Queen's conception was spread for a policy. Some 
affirmed that she was with child, but it miscarried. Some other said that 
she was deceived by a tjrmpany or other like disease, whereby she thought " 
she was with child and was not. But what the truth was I refer the report 
thereof to other that knoweth more" a. 

* Dispatches announcing this pregnancy were even sent to foreign courts. 
Fox and Holinshed have further details on this subject, together with 
three Forms of Prayer which were ordered to be used ; one of them that 
the Infant might be '^ a male child, well favoured, and wittie." 



Ryghte honorable and my singulier good Lorde 
after myne humble commendacions wyth lyke thankes 
for your honorable and gentle Lettres send to me 
towchyng the behavior of the Curate of olde Boken- 
ham, and the reformacion of other enormytyes there. 
It may plese you f undrestond that I dyd sende yme- 
dyatlie for the sayd Curate, the churche wardeyns, 
and the questmen there, and uppon their apperaunce. 

Graft. Chron. edit. 1569. p. 1350. . 



r 



190 ORIGINAL LKTTEKS. , 

wyth xij. or xiiij. of the moost substancyall men of the 
parryshe, and upon due examynacion I coude per- 
cey ve noon other th)mg, but all thynges to be well and 
decently ordered and provyded for at thy s hooly tyme 
of Eastre, contrary to the informacion gyven to your 
good Lordshyppe. And yf there had been any thing 
amys they shulde have been punyshed according to 
their demerytes. Beseching your good Lordshippe 
yf any further knowledge coome to you ayther for that 
towne or any other concerning the reformacion of my 
Jurisdiction, or the negligence of m)me offycers, that I 
may be advertysed therof, and have your favorable 
ayde and assistance, and I shall doo the best I can for 
my dyscharge. 

And where yt pleased your honorable Lordshipe 
to wyll me to take a dynner or a supper with you in 
the tyme of my Vysytacion, I humblie thank you ther- 
for, moost hartelye beseching your Lordshipe whan 
occacion shall serve you to vysyte thys Cytye, that ye 
wyll vouchsave to take thys my poore House at your 
commaundment, wherunto your Lordshipe shalbe as 
wellcoome as to your owne. 

Further I undrestond that Mr Mayre here hathe 
certyfyed your Lordshipe of the sodeine good newes, 
brought to us by one of the Citye, of the Queues High- 
nes moost joyf uU deliverance of a nooble Prince : where- 
upon to laude God, Te Deum was solemplye songen iii 
the Cathedrall Churche and other places of the Cytye 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1§1 

wyth woonderfull joye and muche gladnes of all peo* 
pie thoroughe owte all th'^ooll Cytye and the Countrye 
thereabowtes. And yf ye have any further knowledge 
therof I beseche your hcmorable lordshipe that I maye 
be partaker of the same by this.bringer my servante 
whome I sende purposelye therfor. As knoweth 
th'oly GkK)st who preserve Your Lordshipe in contyn- 
nuall helthe and honor. At Norwich the thred of May 
1666. 

Your L. assuredlie 

JOHN NORWyCHE. 

Post scripta. I receyved evon nowe knowledge 
from a freende of myn of ij. wyttenes more of the 
goode and joyfull newes above wrytten, as this sayde 
brynger can declare to your goode Lordeshyppe. 

JOHN NORWYCH. 



The ddusioii of the Queen having been delivered of a Prince, was not- 
confined to Norwich. Fox says, " the parson of Saint Anne within Al- 
detsgate, after procession and Te Deum sung, took upon him to describe 
the proportion of the child, how faire, how beautiful, and great a prince it 
was, as the like had not been seen.*' The rejoicings i^xtended even Xo 
Antwerp. 



LETTER CLXXX. 

Cardinal Pole to Sir Edwa/rd Hastings, a. d. 1555. 

[ms. harl. 7041. p. 169. OrigJ] ^ 

*«* The following Letter is given merely as a specimen of Cardinal 
Pok*s ICagliBh tt^le ; who usually wrote either in Latin or Italian* He 



192 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

was the son of Margaret Countess of Salisbury the daughter of George 
Duke of Clarence, by Sir Richard Pole, and was bom May 11th. A. D. 
1500 : he was made a Cardinal in 153G : and was consecrated archbishop 
of Canterbury March 22<^. 1556. He died m 1558. 



MYNE OWNE GOOD COSEN 

After my most hartye commendations, thys shal- 
be to give you to understand how gladly I received 
your Letters written of your own hand, which I noe 
sooner sawe, but I toke them for a sure testimony of 
that I have long desired to hear of, your perfect re- 
covery of helth. Howbeit they do not testifie so far, 
but that you be much better then you have been, 
which God increase ; so that your frends may enjoye 
you abrode, as I trust they shall, the hotter time of 
summer now approaching, which season is best remedy 
for such diseases. And of this Grod send us perfectly 
to have experience from you. 

Myn helth, thanked to God, is such that I desire 
no better; wherof I am the more jelose now then I 
am commonly at other tymes, for that I am here with 
my flock, amongst whom it woud greve me to be syke. 
But thanked to God I have yet no cause to feare, and 
like state I do wysh to you, which God send you 
shortly. And thus fare yow well. I am, dere Cosen 

Your assured loving Cosin 
Written at Canterbury 26. April. k. car^e cant. 

To my derely beloved Cosyn Sir Edward Hastings 
Knyght^ Master of the Queens Highnesse horses. 



il 



LETTERS 



OP 



THE REION OF 



QUEEN ELIZABETH. 



VOL. II. 



Few Letters of hi^ interest are extant^ written in the first years of 
the Reion of QUEEN ELIZABETH. 

Subsequently, however, the Letters illustrative of public events axe 
abundantly numerous ; and upon none in more extensive detail than upon 
the misfortunes, the excesses, the persecutions, the flight, the captivity, and 
the unjustifiable death of Mary Queen of Scots. 

So mudi has been already done to illnstrate the romantic history of this 
unhappy woman, that no large assemblage of new Letters relating to her 
will be expected here. One or twofimn the English ambassador in Scot* 
land : the Queen of Scots own Letter to Queen Elizabeth upon her land- 
ing, which we shall give both in the original French, and in English ; her 
Letter to Sir Francis Kndlys ooBtainiog hu first attempt to write in En- 
^ish ; two or three fiomifaose to whoseicaie'she'was intrusted in confine- 
ment ; and one or two more relating to her trial and the judgement which 
followed, are all we shall produce. Connected with the last mentioned of 
these Letters, is the FAC SIMILE which forms the frontispiece to the 
present Volume ; affording a rude but accurate Plan of the Tbial at 
FoTHEKiKGAY, drawn ufKJn Ae $ptlt wMi 1i pen, by the hand of the 
Lord Treasurer Burghley. 

Of the other Letters which Ulustrate the Reign of Elizabeth, the sub- 
jects will be foimd tfxtrMitly vaiicAis. A few (exhibit traits df the Qneen*s 
personal character ; among which her Letter written at midni^t to stop 
the Duke of Norfolk's execution on the morrow, and that whidi, by her 
command, detailed to the Earl of Essex her reception of the Poliih ambas- 
sador, are perhaps the most striking. There are a few also^ nijhidi, in a 
remarkable manner, illustrate the feelings of those who received viiits from 
her in her Progresses : several which throw material light upon the state 
of the Police, especially of the metropolis : and some wUch illustrate the 
manners of private life. 

In the reign of Elizabeth a general chai^ in epist^ary style is percep- 
tible. The taste which had been diffused by the cultivation of Qresk and 
Roman learning extended itself even to privcte correspondence, and 
people of education wrote with a propriety of style iqpproaching to the 
best models of that, if not of the present day. 



OHIGINAL J.ETTERS. 195 



LETTER CLXXXI. 

Edwin Bishop of Worcester to Sir William Cecil after ^ 
wards Lord Burghley : with a New-Year's Gifi» 

[i^s. LAKSD. KUM. 6. art. 88. Orig,] 

%* Edwin Sandjrs, the writer of t^is Letter, was consecrated bishop of 
Worcester December the ^l^t 1569. He had been previously one of the 
8apportGi|i of 4fae La4y itf^ OttKfy in w:ho8e cause he w9A |mpri)BMiqed 
both in the Tower of London and the Marshalsea. He was afterwards an 
ezHe in GFermanj ; but returned to London on the very day thatX^^ieen 
Elizabeth w^s gowned. He succeeded Grindall in the see of London in 
1670; and again, in 1576, in the archbishoprick of York. He died 
August 8tb. 1688. 



What way I may declare any part of my bounden 
deutie towardes youe, for the manifold benefitts re- 
ceived, certanlie I wote not. For as ye have bene 
the meane to bringe me into the place of honestie, so 
have ye bene the chefe worker to preserve my hones- 
tie from malice whiche mynded to impeache yt. 
Which benefitt of all others I qsteame the most, and 
can no otherwise recompense byt onlie by bearing of 
good will, which when seasonable tymes will make 
bud forth and yelde fruyt, ye may of right clame the 
same as your owne. Suche ys the barrennes of this 
Contrie that yt bringith nothing forth fitt to remem- 
ber youe withall, and therfor I am bold to present 
youe with an olde Clock, in the stead of a Newyears 
gift, >ehich \ trust ye will the ;rather accept becf^u^e 3rt 
W:^ j^yr.olde ^l4lst^rs gf happy memorie Ei;^ Ed- 

o St 



196 OKTGTKAL LETTERS. 

WA&D^8, and afterwards your lovinge and learned bro- 
thers M'. Cheekes ; and, synce, hys who thinkith him 
self in many respectes ibost bounden unto youe, whois 
prayer ye shall ever have, whois service ye may ever 
use : as knowith the Almightie, who grant youe many 
happie yeares with much increase in the knowledge 
of Christ, imto whois mercifull governance I commend 
youe. From my howse att Hartilbury this 28* of 
December 156S. 

Yours in Christe most bounde 

ed: wigorn. 

To the right honorable Sir 
Willm Cedll knight, prindpall 
Secretarie unto the Quenes Ma^^^ 

give this. 



LETTER CLXXXII. 

Henry Lord Berkeley to the Earl of Sussex. 

[m8. cottok. TITUS B. II. foL 349. Orig,] 

*^* Henry Lord Berkdej, the writer of this Letter, came to his title in 
1534 ; having been bom nine weeks and four days after the death of his 
father. His sister, alluded to in it, was Elizabeth the wife of Thomas 
Boteler Earl of Ormond. Thomas Raddiffe Earl of Sussex, to whom it 
is addressed, was the Lord Deputy of Ireland. 



Right honorable and my very good Lorde, whereas 
I am informed by suche as of late are come owte of 



ORIGINAL L£TT£ftS. 197 

Irelande that my Ladye Woormonde my sister is not 
so well used by my Lorde her husbande as I would 
wishe her to be : and nature movinge me to ieame 
further of the truthe herein, I am so bolde at this pre- 
sente (hearinge of your Lord^ipps late arrivall owt 
of those partes) to desire your Lordship that yt maye 
please you by your Lettres to signifye unto me whe- 
ther you imderstande there be anye suche mislikinge 
betwene them or not, and the causes thereof, to the 
ende I maye travell therein accordinglie. Trustinge 
also that yf she be not well dealte withall and used as 
she ought to be, that then your Lordshippe will make 
reaporte of the same to suche of the Councell as maye 
heaIpe«to redresse the matter, and my suite to be 
made for her the better furthered. And in so doinge 
I must neades acknowledge myselfe bothe very moche 
beholden unto your good Jliordshippe, and She also, 
for her parte, moste bounden contynuallye to pray to 
the Almightie for the preservation of your Lordship 
with the encreace of muche honoure. From my Cas- 
tell of Berkeley, the xxvj^ of Maye, 1664. 

Your Lordshipps assured 

HENRY BERKELEY. ' 

» 

To the Right honorable and 
my very good Lorde the 
Earle of Sussex, yeve these. 



196 OUOINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CLXXXIII. 

Thomas Randolph to Sir WiOiam CeeiUj upon the pub- 
lication qfthe BannSi previous to the marriage of 
Queen Mary with Lord DcMrrdey, 

[m8. cotto¥. calig. b. IX. foL 228. Orig."] 

^^ Chalmers, in his Life of Mary Queen of Soots, 8vo. edit 1 822, vd. 
I p. 225, from the Edinlmi^ Mag^i^ of Octtito liil7, ssy^ ^<ln Ofe 
Bmdc of Ihe Kirk of Canagai^ < The Sl*t July^ AJ). 1666 : ^ whieh 
day Johne Brand, mjmister, presented to the Khrk ane writing, written he 
the justice derks hand ; desyring the Klric of ifte CHnagaii, and myidsie ir 
thereof to prodaim Haiie Duk of Albsyne Erie of Roise on the one 
parte, and Marie be the grace of €k>d, Quene of Scottis, soverane, on the 
other part : the which the Kiric otdAhdd tfi6 ihyhister to do, wilfi hifeei* 
don of the name of Qod * '* But from the foUowing Letter of Thomas 
Randolph, the English agent in Scotland, it appears that the banns were 
really published with die Queeh's natne firM. They were ptobaldy aiu 
nounced a second tune in the Church of Canagait: but the third publica* 
tion, as will be seen in the succeeding Letter, was in the dh^>ei of fidy- 
rood House, inmiediatdy before the eelebtaiian of th^ Maitiaga Tte 
same process was resorted to in 1667) when Mary gave her hand to Lord 
Bothwdl : but the publication was refused by one Craig, a minister itf 
Edinburgh, who was applied to upon the occaidon ; nhd irhd a fte rw s wb 
justified himself for the same before the Privy CoundL 



YouE H. desyerethe from tyme to i3nlie to here 
of our do}mgs here, and, as the worlde frainethe 
amongeste us, presentlye I perceave tfaiit I shall lacke 
vp matter to wry te of. Tester daye, beinge Sondaye, 
the Ban^ of Matrimonie were askede in S^. Giles 
Churche betwene thys Quene ana tlie Ldrcl Darlye* 
in that sorte as I sente your H. a byllet to wiytinge, 
saving that She was fyrste named. After dyner, with 
all the solemnities requisite, he was created Duke of 

« Henry Lord Damley. 



Alhanie, so that upon Sondaye nexte wUbowte aU 
dowte the manage goethe forwarde, but yet uucec^ 
tayoe whether yt shalbe in the Churche wheat the 
Banes were a3ked> in the Abbie Churdie, or in her 
owBe ChappeU'. 

Her iofee remaymtha eonljfimuaUya with hear, and 
proclamation made thys daye that no man upon payne 
ai deathe «haU departe owte of the towne for x. dayes. 

The daye c^ I^awe agaynate the ilij Bourgois men 
of ijiya iQiwne is lyke to hoWe, for anye Ibyag© that 
she cane beperswaded to the coi^trturi^, Yf ap be that 
theie do compere, the proteatantf have bounde theofii 
selves to aasyste them with all the force that theie are 
hable to mayke. The daye is upon Thurseday nexte. 
Thys Counsell is nowe augmented by one o(^le mo 
then were before of worthye Counsellors, that upon 
Saterdaye with no smale force came to thys towne, 
the Earle Athall and L. Ruthen So are ther nowe 
present the L. Chauncelor, L. Athall, L. Ersken, L. 
Ruthen, and the Secretarie ; some other are admitted 
to stonde by, of the noble men that are here present. 
My l4ord of Murraye hathe playnelye refused to coine 
amonge their hands whome he bathe so good occar- 
sion to suspecte, and therfore yt wa3 yesterdaye in 
consultation whether yt were beste to have hym pro- 
clamed rebell thys daye or not; whear unto some 
among the Lords dyscented. I knowe not yet what 

• They wc»e actually married in the Ch«ppl of Htdyrood House. 



900 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

will become of yt, nor who their were that dys^ 
cented. 

I here saye that the Quene will thys daye despadbe 
a man, I know not yet whome, towards the Quene^s 
Ma*»«, I thjoike some Frenche man, bycause of the 
£mb. from whome she hathe all her intelligens. Ther 
is one Lassells that dwellethe bysyds Toplyf, a cim- 
nynge dealer betwene thys Coimtrye and that. Maye 
yt please her Ma^® that I may knowe her pleasure 
for suche Englisshemen as are here, or others that 
come. Moste humblye I tayke my leave. At Eden- 
bourge the xxiiij? of Julye, 1565. 

Yo' H. allwayes at commamid 

THOl RANDOLPHS. 

To the right honorable S^ William 
Scidll knight principall Secre- 
torie to the Q. Ma^«. 



LETTER CLXXXIV. 



Thomcts Randolph to the Earl of Leicester^om Edin^ 
burgh July 31^ 1666/ giving an Accoutd of the 
Marriage qfthe Queen of Scots to LordDamley. 

[ms. cotton, calig. b. IX. fol. 218. Orig'] 



% 
« « « * «'« « « 

I DowTE not but your H. hathe hearde by such in- 
formation as I have geven from hence, ^at the pre- 



sent state of this Countrie is ; howe thys Quene is nowe 
become a mariid wyfe, and her howsbande, the sel^ 

same daye of his marriage, made a Kinge. 

♦ ♦ • ♦ « « « ♦ " « . 

" Theie wer maried with all the solemnities of the 
popyshe t3rme, savinge that he hard not the masse; 
his speach and tawlke arguethe his mynde and yet 
wiilde he fayne seem to the worlde that he were of some 
Religion, His words to all men agaynste whom he 
cdnceaveth imye dyspleasure, howe unjuste soever yt 
be, so prowde and spytefull, that rather he seemethe 
a monarche of the worlde, then he that not long since 
we have seen and knowne the Lord Darlye. He look- 
ethe nowe for reverence of maynie that hiave lytle will 
to gyve it hym, and some ther are that do gyve yt that 
thynke hym lyttle worthye of y t. All honor that maye 
be attributed unto anye man by a wyf, he hathe yt 
whollye and fullye ; all prayse that maye be spoken of 
hym he lackethe not from her self; all dignities that 
she cane indue hym with, are all reddie given and 
graunted. No man pleasethe her that contentethe not 
hym. And what may I saye more, she hath geven over 
unto hym her whole wyll, to be ruled and guyded as 
hymself beste lykethe. She cane as myche prevaile 
with hym in any thjmge that is agaynste hys wyll, as 
your Lordship maye with me, to perswade that I sholde 
hange myself. Thys laste dignetie, owte of hande to 
have byne proclamed Kinge, she wolde have had yt 



202 OmiGINAL LETTEES. 

dyfferred imtyll yt ware agreed by Par.emente^ or had 
^yne hym self of xxj. yeres «f age, that thyBgs dooe in 
hys name mygfat have the bettor autoritie. He wolde 
in no case have y t dyfferred one daye ; and ethef" then 
or never. Whearupon thys dowte is ryaen amcmgeste 
our men of lair e, whether Ae beinge dade widi a how«h 
bonde, and her howsbonde not xx). jperes, anye tbjnige 
withowte Porkment cane be oi str^igefthe that is doD» 
betwene them. Upon Saterdaye at after nqne these 
matters were kmge in debatinge, and before theie were 
well resolved upon, at ix» bowers at night, by iij. b^ 
rauldes at sonde of the trompet, he was prodamed 
Eonge ; thys was the night before the marii^e. This 
daye, Mondaye, at xij. of the clocke, the Lords, all that 
were in thys towne, ware present at the proclajaoinge 
of hym agayne ; when no man saide so my che as Amen, 
savinge hys father, that cried owte alowde ^^ Grod save 
his Grace."" 

The maner of the Manage was in this sorte. Upcm 
Sondaye in the mominge betwene v and vj. she was 
convoide by divers of her nobles at the Chappell. She 
had upmi her backe the greate muming gown of 
blacke, with the greate wyde muming hoode, not un- 
lyke unto that which she woore the deulfuU daye of 
the buriall of her howsbande. She was leade unto the 
Chappell by the Earles Lenox and Athall, and ther 
was she lefte untyll her howsbonde came, who also 
was convoide by the same Lords. The minisUM^^ 



ORIGINAL L£TT£11S. 203 

preets, ij. deep, tber receave them. The banes are 
asked the thjrde tyme, and an Instrument taken by 
a Ndtarie that no man saide agaynste them, dr alleged 
anye c^wse whye the mariage myght not proced. The 
words wei'e spoken. The rings which were iij, the 
middle a liche diamonde^ were put upon her fynger. 
Theie kneele togyther^ abd maynie prayers saide over 
theoL She tarriethe owte the masse ; and he takethe 
a kysse and leav^he her ther, and wente to her cham^ 
bet : wheth^ Within a space she followethe, and ther 
beinge requered accordinge to the solemnitie to oS 
her care^ aiid leave asyde those sorrowfull garments, 
and geve herself to ane pleasanter lyf, after somit 
prettie refusall, more I beleve for maner sake than 
greef of harte, she suflTrethe them that stoode by, everie 
man that coulde approve*^, to tayke owte a pyne, and 
so beinge commytted imto her Ladies, changed her 
garments ; but went not to bedde ; to signifie unto the 
worlde that yt was no luste moved them to marrie, but 
onlye the necessitie of her Countrie, not, yf Grod wylle, 
longe to leave y t destitute of an heire. Suspicious men, 
or suche as are geven of all thyngs to mayke the worst, 
wolde that yt sholde be beleved that they knewe cache 
other before that theie came ther. I wolde not your 
Lordship sholde so beleve, the lykelyhoods are so 
great to the contrarie that jrf yt were possible to se 
suChe an Acte done, I wolde not beleve yt. After the 

• '* approvers*' was the term for friends and followers. 



204 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

marriage followethe commenlye cheare and dancinge. 
To their dynner theie were convaide by the whole no- 
bilitie. The trompetts sonde, a larges cried, and mo- 
nie throwne abowte the howse in great abundance to 
suche as were happie to gette anye parte. Theie dyne 
bothe at ane table upon the upper hande. Ther serve 
her these Earles, Athall shower^, Morton carvar, 
Crayforde^ cupbearer. These serve hym in lyke of- 
fices, Earles Eglen*^, Cassels, and Glancam. After 
dynner theie dance awhyle and retir them selves tyli 
the hower of supper, and as theie dyned so do they 
suppe : some dauncinge ther was and so theie goe to 

bedde. 

# . * * * * * 

In a postscript is added : 

Two things I had all moste forgotten : thWe was, 
to honor the feaste the L. Harsken^ was made Earle 
of Marre, and maynie made knightes that never showde 
anye greate token of their vasellage. Th'other is that 
the L. S'. John had his office of chef Chamberlayne 
taken from hym, and was geven to the L. Flemenge 
howe in principal credit with the newe Kynge, 



• sewer. 



k Crawford. • Elgin. < Enkiiie. 



OKIGINAL LETTERS. ^5 



LETTER CLXXXV. 

Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil: various 

Intelligence, 

[ms. cottok. calio. b. IX. foL 232. Orig,\ 



Maye yt please yo*^ H. I have receaved the Quene^s 
M**. lettre of the seconde of this instant, and therby 
understonde her Mat*, mynde touchynge the Com- 
missioners appoynted by this Quene according to her 
Mat*, will. I have spoken agayne with this Quene 
that some other noble man of lyke qualitie myghte be 
appoynted in my Lord Bothewell place, whearunto 
her Grace hathe not yet accorded, but hathe promised 
to conferr with her Counsell ther in, and to gyve me 
a resolute answer therof within iij. or iiij. dayes, w^** 
tyme I do attende, and in the meane season wolde not 
that yo' H. sholde thynke longe for my lettres ; for 
with more expedition I cane not bringe these matters 
to that passe that is to be desyered. I thoughte good 
also f advertyse yo" H. that this daye Roberte Melvin 
is despached from hens towards the Quene'^s Ma^'^ 
from the Quene. His cheif Commission is to see what 
the Quene^s Ma**® will do for this Quene towards the 
succession in favour of my Lord of Murraye and his 
complices. He muste also sue for my Ladie Lenox 
deliverie, and other wyse see what freindshipe he cane 
mayke amonge such as are well wyllinge towards her 



206 OUIGIVAL LETTERS. 

and howsbonde, that none be preferred to them in their 
pretended righte. Tlie hest oouUer that he cane use 
is to be suter for the Lord, and in the meane season 
maye deale with other as he cane fynde occasion. Yt 
is thought that anye thynge that this Quene cane de- 
syer wilbe the easlyer accordyd for the greate number 
oi her favorers in the Queues Ma^ reauhne. I shall 
not neade nor wyll not be so bolde as t^advise you to 
stonde harde to yo^ centere, but I assure you I see this 
parte of the circumference shrewedlye inclijped, and 
to beare a ^eate swaye to yp"^ hurte, jrf yt be ncrf 
looked unto. Yt hathe byne openlye saide by this 
Quene that she wyll have the JVf asse free for all men 
that wyll here yt. H» howsbonde, his fi^ther. Lord 
Athall, and other, nowe day lye resorte to yt. The 
Protestants in such^ feare and dowte of th^^i selves 
that theie knowe not what shall become of them. The 
wyseste so myche meslyke this state aud ^verment, 
that theie desyer nothynge more then the retorne of 
(the Lords, ether to be receaved in their owne ijowmes 
or ons agayne to put aU ,in hazarde. 

Vesterdaye th^ Lord Darlye receayed the Order. 
The £mb. bothe dyned ^nd supped with hj/jn. Thi^ 
daye he dynethe with the iQuj^e; topiprrowe wifii)^ 
the Cpujosell; upon Wensed^e in the C^Ue; mi 
ThuBsedaye departathe. The Solemnitie w^ great^ 
the moste parte of tli^ npliilijtie preset. Ther went 
with hym to the masse, ,his father, £arles . AthaU apd 



OSIGIVAL LETTERS. S07 

CftMeli, and Lord Seton. Thus myche I thought 
|pH)d to wryte unto Your H. attendinge sudbe answer 
M i diall gette touohynge the Commissioners. Moste 
htimblye I tayke my leave. At Edenb. the x^. of 
Fdimarie iSHB. 

Yo^ h. bounden at 
Gommande 



To the jrighte honorable 
S'. WiUiam CeciU Knighte 
Principall "Secretarie to 
die QaeiHB Ma^. 



THO. RANJDOLrHE. 



LETTEB CLXXXVI. 



The Envrl of Ueifbrd <md Jf ^ Thomas Randolph to 
ike Pmivy Caimcil ^Engiaaid^ giving an Accotmt 
qfihe mwnrder of David Mizzio. 

[mS. cotton. CALIB, B. x.f<fl. 378. Orig'] 

^^ 'The murder (XP'Rkzio was one of the most extraordinary events 
^liich ever {Uu^raced the Annab «of mijr natkn. 

Damley, in all probability, in spite of the conversations detailed in the 
fblknHngljetter, was actuated in iiis revenge more by piide than jealousy. 
3?he;wiit8r«f ihe.Histo]$y of Seotland iniHcdinshodViChronide, at the end 
of the year 1566, says, ^^ About this time was a new order taken for placing 
the^fiing^iiii&^ueens namein Ht tfaenr Writings and Patents. For where, 
-unlil this iinns, the/Klxigs name was .set befine the-QueeBp, now, quilx; 
owtnury, the name of the Queen was written before the Kings,: beside 
f^i^ iifterward,-iheQueen4ierBelf would only set her name to the wri. 
^tiiigsin (place-of hem and his : and JXAVU^^he.seereUtry was appointed 
in his place, to ha'oe a Stabip of the Kings name, to use when 
NEED BE QUIRED.'* In Damley*8 mind, this must have been treason. 



208 OltlOIXAL LETTEBS. 

. Maye yt please your Honors heringe of so maynie 
maters as we do, and fyndinge suche varietie in the 
reportes, we have myche ado to deceme the veritie, 
which makethe us the slower and loother to put anye 
thynge in wrytinge, to th^intente wewolde not that 
your Honors, and by you the Quenes Majestie our 
Sovereigne, sholde be advertised but of the verie trothe 
as nere as we cane possible. To this ende we thoughte 
good to sende up Captaine Carowe, whoe was in £den- 
bourge at the tyme of the laste attemptate, whoe spoke 
ther with divers, and after that with the Quenes self 
and hir howsbande. Conforme to that which we have 
lemed by other, and knowe by his reporte, we fynde 
the same confirmed by the parties self that were ther 
present and assysters unto those that were executors 
of the dete*. This we fjmde for certayne that the 
Quenes howsbande beinge entred into a vehement su- 
spicion of David that by hjrm some thynge was oom- 
mytted which was moste agaynste the Quenes honor 
an4 not to be borne of his parte, fyrste communicated 
his mynde to George Duglas, whoe fyndinge his 
sorrows so greate, soughte all the meanes he coulde 
to put some remedie to his greef, and conmiunicatinge 
the same unto My Lord Ruthen, by the Kings com- 
mandement, no other waye coulde be'founde then that 
David sholde be taken owte of the waye, whear in he 
was so emeste and daylye pressed the^ same that no 

• deed. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. 209 

Teste coulde be had untyll yt was put in execution. 
To this it was founde good that the Lord Morton and 
Lord Lindesaye sholde be made previe, to th'intente 
that theie myght have their frends at hand yf nedere- 
quered, which cawsed them to assemble so maynye as 
theie thoughte sufficient agaynste the tyme that this 
determination of theirs sholde be put in execution, 
which was determined the ix^^ of this instante, iij. dayes 
before the Parliamente sholde begyne, at what tjnme 
the saide Lords were assured that the Earles Argile, 
Morraye, Rothes, and their complices sholde have 
hyne forfited yf the Kinge coulde not be perswaded 
throughe this meanes to be their frend, whoe for the 
desyer he had that his intente shulde tayke efiecte 
throne waye, was contente to yelde withowte all dyffi- 
cultie to th'other, with this condition that theie wolde 
gyve their consents that he myght have the Crowne 
matremoniall. He was so impatient to see those thyngs 
he sawe and were dayly broughte to his eares, that he 
dayly pressed the saide Lord Ruthen that ther myghte 
be no IcMiger delaye ; and to the intente yt myghte be 
manifeste unto the worlde that he approved the dete*, 
was contente to be at the doinge of yt hym self. 

Upon the Saterdaye at nyghte, nereuntoviij. of the 
clocke, the King convoythe h)naa self, the Lord Ruthen, 
€reorge Duglas, and two other, thorowe his owne 
Chamber by the previe stayers, up to the Queues 

* dMd. 
VOL. II. P 



SIO ORIGINAL LETTERSr 

Chamber, yoyinge* to which ther is a Cabiiiet abowtr 
xij. fcx)te8 square, in the same a lyttle lowe repoaioge 
bedde, and a table, at the which ther were syttinge at 
the supper the Quene, the Ladie Argik, and David 
with his cappe upon his heade. Into the Cabinet ther 
c»mmethe in the King, and JjCfrd Ruthen, who willed 
• David to cmne forthe, sajringe that ther was no place 
for hym. The Quene saide that yt was her wyll ; her 
howsbonde answerde that yt was agaynste her honor. 
The Lord Ruthen saide that be sholde leme better 
his deutie, and ofieringe to have taken him by the 
arme, David tooke the Quene by tlie blygfates^ of her 
gowne, and put hym self behynde the Quene^ who 
wolde gladlye have savid h}rm ; but the Kyng haringe 
loosed his hands, and holdinge her in his armes, David 
was thruste owte of the Cabinet th(»x>we the bede 
chamber into the Chamber of Fresais, whear were the 
Lord Morton, Lord Lindesaye^ whoe intendinge that 
night to have reserved hym and the nexte daye to 
hange hym, so maynie beinge abowte them that bore 
hym evle will, one thruste hym into the^boddie with 
a dagger, and after hym a greate majnue other, so that 
he had in his boddie above lv. wcnada Yt is tolde for 
, certayne that the Kings owne dagger was lefte stickinge 
in hym. Wheather be stroke hym or not we cane not 
knowe for certayjie^. He was not slayne in the Quenes 

• joining. » plaits. 

• Hume says that Douglas sehdiig the King's dagger, stuck it in the body of 
Rizzio. . . 



OB16I14AL LETTERS. Sll 

jMfesens as was saide, but goinge downe the stayers 
owte of the Chamb^ of Presence. 

Ther remaytied a longe tyme with the Quene, her 
howsbotide and the Lord Ruthen. She. made, as we 
here, greate intoreession that lie sholde have no harme. 
She blamed greatlye her howsbonde that was the au- 
tor of so fowle an Acte. Yt is saide that he dyd an« 
Bwer that David had more compagnie of her boddie 
th^i he for the space of two monethes, and tharfore 
for h^ honor and his owne contentement he gave hid 
oonseiit that he sholde be taken awaye. Yt is not, 
saythe she, the Woman^s parte to seeke the howsbonde, 
and therefore in diat the fawlt was his owtie. He said 
that when he came, she ether wolde not or made her 
self sycke*. Well, saythe die, you have taken your 
laste of me, and your fEU-ewell. That were pyttie, 
saythe the Lord Ruthen, he is your Majesties howek 
bond, and you must yelde deutie to eache other. Whye 
maye not I, saythe she, leave hym as weU as your wyf 
dyd her howsbonde. Other have done the*lyke. The 
Lord Ruthan saide that she was lawfullye devorced 
from her howsbonde, and for no sudhe cawse as the 
Kinge founde hym self greved. Besyds this man was 
meane, basse, ennemie to the nobiliitye, shame to her, 
and dystruction to her Grace'^s countrye. Well saythe 

• tB dl« Orlf^dal, firom the words " She blamed greatlyvf to the end of this sen- 
tence, three lines are drawn obliquely down the page, with this Note in^the margin* 
«« It is et^ fMfta rather to passe this aoMtte with stlenos theft to ntayherany suehe 
rehersall of thyngs commytted unto us in secret, but we knowe to whome we wryte« 
and leave all thjmgs to your wysedoms." 

r'2 



£12 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 

she, yt s^lbe deare blude to some of you yf hys be 
spylte. God forbed, saythe Lord Ruthen, for the 
more your Grace showe yourself o£^ded, the worlde 
wyU judge the worce. Her howsbonde this tyme 
speakethe ly ttle. Her Grace contynuallye weepethe. . 
The Lord Ruthen beinge evle at ease, and weake^ 
callethe for a drinke, and saythe this I muste do widi 
your Majesties pardon, and perswadethe her in the 
beste sorte he coulde that she wolde pacific her self. 
Nothynge that coulde be saide coulde please her. 

In this mean t3rme ther rose a comber ? in the Courte, 
to peacifie which ther went downe the Lord Ruthen, 
who went strayte to the Earles Huntlye, Bothewell, 
and Athall to quiet them, and to assure them from the 
King that nothynge was intended agajniste them. 
Theie, notwithstondinge, takinge feare when theie 
hearde that my Lord of Murraye wolde be ther the next 
daye, and Argile, to meete them ; Huntlye and Bodie- 
well gette owte of a wyndow and so departe. Athall had 
leave of the Kyng, with Flyske and Landores (whoe 
was latlye called Lyslaye, the person of Ovne) to go 
whear theie wolde ; and beinge convoide owte ^f the 
Court by the Lord of Liddingeton, theie went that 
nighte to suche places whear theie thoughte them 
selves in moste saulftie. 

Before the Kinge k$fte tawlke with the Quene, in 
the heringe of the Lord Ruthen, she was cont^at that 



• A rout. 



ORIGINAL LEXTSKS. S13 

he sholde lye with her that nyghte. We knowe not 
howe he forslowe* hym self, but came not at her, and 
excused hym self to his frends that he was so sleapie 
that he coulde not wake in due tyme. 

Ther were in this compagnie two that came in with 
the Kinge; th'one Androwe Car of Fawsensyde, 
whome the Quene say the wolde have stroken her with 
a dagger, and one Fatricke Balentine brother to the 
Justice Gierke who also her Grace saythe offered a 
dagge^ agaynste her bellye with the oocke downe. 
We have byne emestlye in hande with the Lord Ru- 
then to knowe the veritie ; but he assurethe us of the 
contrarie. Ther were in the Quenes Chamber the 
■Lord Robert, Arthur Ersken, one or ij. other; theie 
at the fyrste offeringe to mayke some defence. The 
Lord Ruthen drewe his dagger, and fewe mo wepons 
then that were not drawne nor seen in her Grace's prer 
sens as we are by the saide Lord assured. 

The nexte daye abowte vij. of the clocke after none 
ther arrived the Earle of Murraye and th'other with 
hym that were in Englande. He spake immediatlye 
with the Kinge, and strayte after with the Quene. She 
saide that he was welcome, and layde the fawlte upon 
other that he was owte of the Countrie, requered of 
hym to be a good subjecte, and she wolde be to hym 
as he oughte. The nexte dajfe he spake with her 
agayne, as also my Lord of Morton and Lord Ruthen 

• lost himself through sloth. ^ a pistol. 



S14 QKIGINAL LKTTiEllS. 

• 

who exhorted her humblye to caste of* her care, to 
stodie for that whiche mygfate be her safde, weele, and 
honor, promesinge for their parts obbediens and ser- 
vice as becommed trowe and faythefull subjects. She 
accepted their sayings in good worthe ; wylled them 
to devise what myght be for their securitie, and she 
wolde subscribe jrt. She sendethe for the Lord of 
LiddingetoD) BXid in g^tle words devisethe with hym 
that he wolde perswadt that she myght hiEive her liber- 
tie, and the garde that was abowte her removed, seinge 
that she had graupted their requests. He founde yt 
verie good and not tnajrnie of the Lords as we here 
that myslyked yt. All men beinge gone to their lodg- 
ings, and no suspicion taken of anye that ether she 
wolde departe or not perfonne the promes to the 
Lords, abowte xij. of the clocke at nyghte she 
convoide her self a privie waye owte of the Howse. 
She, her howsbonde, and one gent1ew(»nan came to 
the place whear Arthur Ersken and the Captaine of 
her Garde keapte the lKN*ses, and so roode her waye 
behynde Arthur Ersken untyll she came to Seton, 
ther she tooke a horse to her self, and roode to Donif 
barrton to the Castle, wheather resorted unto her the 
Lords Huntlye and Bodiewell^ and so divers of the 
whole Countrie. 

The Lords beinge thus dysappojnfited sent the nexte 
daye the Lord Simple to her Grace with rec]ueste from 

•Ofl; r 



(AIGINAL LETTERS. £15 

their L(n*d8hip8 unto her Majestie to fulfyU her pro- 
mes to signe that Byll far their securitie. He was 
dyffered ij. or iij. days untyll suche tyme as divers of 
the Lords of the which the Earl of Glencame was the 
fyrste, the Earle Rothese nexte, and some other, by se- 
cret meanes had gotten their remission and were fuUye 
restored, whoe breakinge from the reste as their fcu'ce 
dimenesshede so dyd her Grace increace, and whear 
before theie were hable to have at the leaste defended 
them selves, theie were fayne to seeke their owne 
saulftie. To this also the slowe commynge of the Earle 
of Argile was a greate impediment, whoe beinge not 
yet comen to Edenburgh dyd put no smale dowte les 
that he wolde fdlowe the same waye which Glencame 
and Rothes had done. The Earle Morton and Lord 
Ruthai fjmdinge them selves lefte by the Kynge for all 
his fayer promesses, bands, and subscriptions, and 
seinge th'*other fawle from them, savinge the Earle of 
Murraye and suche as were of the laste enterpryse, 
thoughte beste to provide for themselves, and bo every 
one of them tayke their severall waye, whear theie 
thynke that theie maye be moste at ease or suertie : 
whoto names we sende herewith to your Honors. 

The Earle of Argile beinge come to Lythecowe*, 
My Lord of Miuraye with his frends go to hym. 

Abowte the tyme that the Lords lefte Edenburgh, 
the Quene departed Dombar towards yt. She enterde 

•LinUthgow. 



S16 OBICINAL L£TT£B». 

the Towne abowte iij. M. persons^ all men beinge 
commanded to attende upon hir Grace at her pleasure. 
The noble men ana beste hable remayne yet ther. She 
lodgethe not in the Abbaye, but in a howse' in the 
Towne in the hye streate ; and yesterdaye removed to 
one other nearer the Castle and larger. The nexte 
daye after her arrivall she sendethe the person of 
Flyske to Lytheoowe with conditions to my lords Ar- 
gile, Murraye, and the reste, which beinge by them 
founde suiEcient for their saulftie, with restitution to 
their lands and goods, have accepted with these re- 
strayntes, not, for a space, to come near the Courte, 
nor yet to be suters for those that conmiitted the laste 
attemptate. The Kinge hathe utterly e forsaken them, 
and protested before the Counsell that he was not oon- 
sentinge to the death of David, and that jt is sore 
agaynste his wyll : he wyll nether mayntayne them near 
defende them : whear upon the nexte daye publicke 
Declaration was made at the Marquet Crosse of Eden- 
burgh the xxj^ of this instante agaynste the Lords, 
declaringe the Kings innocencie in that matter. As 
maynie as were at this Acte, or of counsell, are som- 
onde to underlye the Lawe upon Frydaye nexte. Di^ 
vers of them are oute of the Countrie, as my Lord of 
Morton, the Lord Ruthen, his sonne, and Androwe 
Car. The Lord of Lindesaye is ether with my Lord 
of Argile or within the Lord Athals bounds, whear 
also yt is saide that my Lord of Liddingeton is, of 



OBIGIKAL LETTERS. S17 

whome we here that he hathe accepted a charge from 
the Quene to enter hymself presoner m Envemes. 
He was participant of this laste counsell dyscovered 
by the Kings self, as all the reste were that he knewe. 
Domlaneriche is in the Castle of Edenburgh ; a sbne 
of his in the Blacknese ; the larde of Wetherbome, a 
Hume of good livinge, in Dombarre ; of which newe 
we here that my Lord of Bothewell hathe the keep- 
inge, and is entred into all the lands that the Lord of 
Liddingeton had in possession. The parson of Flyske 
is made Clarke of the Regester : whear hjrm self is we 
knowe not: his wyf put owte of the howse and yt 
spoyled, geven in praye to the soldiars. Whoe shalbe 
Secretarie we knowe not ; but the Lord of Liddington 
havinge suche frendeshipe with my Lord Athall is 
thoughte that he shall do well inoughe. The Justice 
Clerke rather suspected for his brother then that he 
can be accused to have byne of this practyse ; yet as 
we heare his office is geven awaye. Divers of the 
Towne, honeste men, commetted to prison, and divers 
escaped. 

Besyds her Garde she hathe iij. C soldiers in wages 
which are payde by the Towne, who fynde the hour- 
dayne greate, and extremitie suche, as under the 
French men their lives were never so sore. 

The Quene hath cawsed a bande to be made, and 
wyll that all men that are frends to anye of those that 
were previe to David deathe shall subscribe to pursue 



218 OEIGIVAL LXTTEE8. 

them, and do their uttermoste to apprehoide th^n and 
bringe them to the place of Justice. Some have sub- 
scribed, other have refused, and as we here that is the 
cawse of the impresonment of Domlaneriche and his 
scxme, whoe came to the towne ij. dayea aftef the 
deatbe of David. 

Of the greate substance he had ther is myche 
spoken. Some saye in golde to the value of ij. Ml' st. 
His i^parell was verie good; asyt is sayde xviij. payre 
of velvet hose. His Chamber well fiimysshed, armour, 
daggs, pystoletts, harquebusis, xxij. swerds. Of all 
this nothinge spoyled nor lackinge, savinge ij. or iij. 
daggs. He had the custodie of all the Queues Let- 
tres, which all were delivered unlooked upon. We 
heare of a juell that he had hanginge abowte hys 
necke of some price that cane not be hearde of. He 
had upon his backe, whan he was slayne, a nyghte 
gowne of daxnaske furred with a satteryne dublet, and 
hose of russet velvet. 

Bycawse you M. Secretarie in your Lettre of the 
xx^ requered that you myght be advertysed by me 
Randolph at good lenghthe with the circomstcmces of 
those thyngs that were done at that tyme, and of the 
speaches betwixt the Queue and them, your Hcmor^ 
shall receave all that hytharto we have hearde, havingc 
conferred the Reports ^m abroode which came to our 
knowlege with the saying* of these noUe men, the 
Lord M(H'ton and Lord Ruthen that are pies^t^ andf 



OfiiaiNAt L£TT£BS. 219 

of them ally that which we have foiinde neareste to the 
trothe, or as we beleve the trothe'self, have here put 
them io wrytinge, not having? at thys t3rme so myche 
care bowe longe we troble you with the readinge, nor 
howe luxnelye theie are put to gyther ; but wyllinge 
to our utter moste parte to informe you the trothe, 
leavinge the judgement of the matter self to your 
wysedomest Yt maye jdease your Honinrs farther to 
knowe that ther arrived here upon Mondaye laste the 
Earle of Mortoa that came in by the Weste borders 
and with hym Oeorge Duglas. His L. and my Lord 
Ruthen have faothe wrytten to your Honors beinge 
advised therunto by my Lord of Murraye, and mynde 
verie shortlye to mayke full declaration of their whole 
cawse howe yt procedid fnxm the beginn3mge to thys 
tyme of their arrivall here. 

Besyds these which are here, not above x. or xij. 
po'sones yt is thought that other shortlye wyll repayre 
into the Countrie, for that we here that theie are 
sharplye pursued, their bowses and goods possessed, 
and them sdlves verie emestlye sought for. We have 
no farther at this tyme to wryte unto your Hcmors 
savinge we heare for certayne that the Earle of Lenox * 
is commanded from the Courte, in what sorte or 
wheather* yet we knowe not. 

We see no force intended by the Subjects towards 
their Sovereigne ; but a pacient wyll to indui^ this 
fortune untyll yt please Ood to mayke yt better. 

■ whiHitr. 



220 ORIGINAL LETT£K8. 

The Lord Ruthen is verie sycke and keapethe 
moste his bedde. 

Thus havinge k)nge trobled you for the desyer we 
have in all thyngs to satysfie you, thoughe we had 
good wyll in some thjrngs to have byrie sparer, in 
speciall for the speaches betwen the Quene and her 
howsbonde, we take our leaves. 

At Barwicke the xxvij^ of Marche 1566. 

Your Honors moste assured 

F. BEDFORD. 
THO. KANDOLPHE. 

My Lord of Murraye, by a speciall servant 
sent unto us, desierethe your Honors favour 
to these noble men as his dere frends, and 
such as for hes sake hathe geven this ad- 
venteur. 

The names of suche as were doers and of counsell 
in this laste attemptate conunitted at Edenb. the ix^ 
of Marche 1565*. 

The Earle of Morton. 

L. Ruthen. 

L. Lyndesaye. 

The M'. of Ruthen. 

L. of Liddington Secret. 

M^ James Magil, Clerke of the Regester. 

S**. John Balendin, Justice Clerke. 

S^ Come. * 

M^ Adam Ersken, Abbot of Combuskenethe. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^1 

Larde of Drumwhastle, called Congingham. 
Lar. of Carse. Montethe. 
La. Bawarde. Murraye. 
La. of Lough Leven. 

His Brother that maried the Heyer of Bouchan. 
Androwe Carre of Fawdensyde. 
Ormeston. 
Brimston. 
Elphenston. 
Hanton. 
Caudor. 
Strmehauke. 
Patricke Balentine. 
Whittingham. 

Patrick Murraye of Tibhere Moore. 
Tho. Scote, Under Sheriff of Stretheme. 
Larde of Carmichell. 

Androwe Coningham, Sonne to the E. of Glen- 
came. * 
M'. Androwe Haye. 
M'. Archibald Duglas. 
George Duglas, Uncle to the King. 
Alex. Ruthen, Brother to the Lord Ruthen. 

All thes, men of good livings, 
besydes a number other gentlemen. 

Imprisoned. 
The Larde of DromlanJIricke in Edenb. Castle. 
The La. of Wetherbome, in Donbar Castle. 



22S OKIOINAt LBTTEftS. 

The Frovoste of Glenclonden Sonne to DomL in 

the Blacknes. 
The Earle of Lenox commanded from the Courte. 



*«* After the murder of Rizao, *' the vengeance of the Queen of 
Scots,** says Hume, '^ was implacable against her husband alfloe, whose 
person was before disagreeable to her, and who, by his violation of every 
tie of gratitude and duty, had now drawn on him her highest resentment 
She engaged him to disown all connexions ¥rith the assaajwniy $o dmf any 
concurrence in their crime, even to publish a proclamatiok containing 
a falsehood so notorious to the whole world ; and having thus made him 
expose himself to universal contempt, and rendered it impracticable for 
him ever to acquire the confidence of any party, she threw him off with 
disdain and indignation.** 

The following was the King*8 Declakatiok, alittedy tllndad to in 
p.21& 

«« Apud Edinltrofig xi«. Martii \66A* 

^' Forasmuch as divers sedidous and wicked persons have maMftmrrly 
sowed rumors, bruts, and pryvey whimperings anemst the li^es of oar 
Realm, slanderously and irreverently backbiting tile Kings Mijesde, as 
that the late Conspiracye and cruei murder oommitled in presence of the 
Quene*s Majestic and treasonable detejming of her Majesties moost noble 
persone in captivitye was done at his oraunaiiiidement, by 1^ Oouasail, 
assistence, and approbation, his Grace for the removing of the evil opinion 
which the good subjects may be induced to oonceyve through such false 
reports and sedidous rumors, hath, as well to the Quenes Malisatli te in the 
presence of the Lords of Secret CounsaUl plainly declared vapon his hanor, 
fidelite, and the woord of a Prince, that he never knewe of any part of die 
sayd treasonable Conspiracye whereof he is 8]attndcnnifll)r iitid sakefesly 
traduced, nor never counsaiXed, commanded, consented, assisted, nor ap- 
proved the same. Thus fair onely his Highnes oversaw himself in to, 
that at the indsement and perswaaiotn of the tayd late CobspifBtaak^ his 
Grace, without the Quenes Majesties advise and knowledge, consented to 
the bringing home out of £iiglande of die Earles of Murrey, Glencame, 
Rdthos, and other persons being iitu^ with wbosi her Higfanas ynm «^ 
fended ; whidi he hath in no wise denyed, and this is the sjnnple, S3mcer, 
and pla3m trudi to all and sundry to wllodie it offers, be it made knowen 
and mabi&tft by these pre8etita.**Kfl^ 

• t. e^i5as-6. • I* MS. Cotton. C?a%. B. m, fbl. Sis. 



. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 22& 

LETTER CLXXXVII. 

Queen Elizabeth to Sir John Foster, respecting' theEarl 
of Morton^ the Lord lluthven, and their Accomplices. 

[m8. lansd. num. 9. art, 19.] 

*^* The Reader need haidly be reminded that several of the murderers 
of Rizzio fled to England. How far they were favoured by Queen Eliza- 
beth, or xather by Cecil's pdicy, the following Letter will, in some mea- 
sure, explain. Lord Ruthven died at Newcastle shortly after, as it was 
said, repentant 

Sir John Forstez, to whom the Queen's Letter is addressed, was one of 
the Wardens of the Borders. 



Trusty ande right welbeloved Wee grete you well. 
Whereas the Quene of Scotts our good sister charg- 
inge the Erie Moreton, Lord Ruthwen, and otheres 
their Complices, remayninge nowe at our Towne of 
Newcastle, not only with the slawghter of hir servant 
David the Italian not far frome hir persone, but with 
certein other treasons towards hir owne personne, 
hathe thereupon maide diverse emest meanes to us, 
'bothe by messages ande Lettres, to deliver them unto 
hir ; and on hir behalfe the Frenche Kinge haithe er- 
nestlie required us to deny them any succor: ande 
seinge that wee maye not indede maintein the keppinge 
of them withein our Realme, and yet consederinge the 
displesour that the Quene their soveraigne presentlie 
bearethe towardes them, wee wolde be lothe to com- 
mitt them into hir hande^Voringe the tyme of hir in- 
dignation. Wee therefore wolde that«thaie shulde de* 



S24> OSiaiNAL LSTTESS. 

vise of some place out of our realme, where they maie 
provide for ther lives and safety vntil suche tyme as 
ether theye may procure their Soveraignes wrath and 
displeasoure to be assuaged towardes them, or ells that 
suche indyfferency of Lawe (as they cane reasonably 
desier) may, accordinge to their doings, be ministered 
unto them. Wherefore we requier you forthwith to 
repaire to them, ande thus muche to signify unto them, 
that therafter thay maie take spedy order for some 
place for their saiftie out of our Realme, where thaie 
shall think metest. This matter you shall as of your-^ 
self firste declare unto them, as a thinge conveniente 
ande necessary for them to do : ande if they shall not 
thereupon make their resolution to departe, then you 
shall singnyfie unto them this our pleasor in our name 
expressely. And thereof faile you not to see it ex- 
ecuted. Yeven under our Signet at our mannor of 
Grenevdch the vij* of May 1566. the eight yere of 
our Reigne. 



LETTER CLXXXVIII. 

Mary Queen of Scots to the Lords of Queen Elizabeths 

Council. 

[ms. cotton, calio. b. X. fol. 388. Orig.l 

*^* Of this Letter, the sigiiatiiM«k>iie is the Queen^s. The rest is 
written in the hand of a secretary. It relates to the succession of Mary, 
in the event of Quee^ Elizabeth's death without issue, to the Crown of 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. £25 

England ; and alludes to the same, as having been recently motioned in 
Parliament. 

It was one of the most unfortunate incidents of Mary^s life that, soon 
after her marriage with the Dauphin of France in 1558, she was induced 
in that Court to assume the title of Queen of England. 
' Among Lord Burghley's Notes of Queen £lizabeth*s Reign, we find 
the following entries : 

1559. Jan. 16. '' The Dauphin of France and his wife. Queen of Scots, 
did by the stile of King and Queen of Scotland, Ekoland, and Ire- 
LAND, grant to the Lord Fleming certain things.*' 

V June 28. '* The Justs at Paris, wherein the King Dauphin's two 

Heralds were apparelled with the Arms of Ekoland and Scotland.*' 

July 16^. '^ Ushers, going before the Queen of Scots (being 

DOW the Flinch Queen) to the Chapel, cry *■ Place pour la Reine d*An^ 

gleterre* "a. 

The Cottonian Manuscript Calig. B. x. foL 13. contains a coloured 
drawing of the Escutcheon of the Arms of Scotland and England which 
was set upon certain '' caroches** at the marriage of the King of Spain 
with the French King's daughter, in the month of July 1559, with these 
Terses beneath : 

*" The Annes of Marie Quene Dolphines of France 
The nobillest Ladie in earth for till advance: 
Off Scotland Quene, and of Inglono also. 
Off Irbland als Ood haith providit so." 

According to Lord Buighley's Notes, however, in that same month, 
the Constable Montmorency interfered to stay the publication both of the 
Stile and Arms of England : but a rancor was generated, the effects of 
which Mary felt through life ; and which was aided in no trifling degree 
by the imprudent anxiety which both Mary and her ministers were con- 
stantly evincing for the settlement of the Succession upon her. 

As early as 1559 the House of Commons, by the mouth of thdr 
Speaker Thomas Gargrave, took up<m them to eidiort Queen Elizabeth 
to marriage. In answer, she drew the Ring from her finger with which 
at her Coronation she had in a set form of words solemnly given herself 
in marriage to her kingdom ; assuring the deputation who brought the 
message, tHat it would be to her full satisfaction both for the memorial 
of her name and for her Glory, if when she died it were engraven upcrn 
her marble tomb ^ Here lieth Elizabeth, xthich reigned a Virgin^ and 
died a Virgin.' 

In 1563, partly by the intrigues of. the friends of the Queen of Scots, 
another Address was voted by the House of Commons, in which they en- 

• Murdin's State Papers, pp. 748, 749. 
VOL. II. Q 



(( 
(( 



SS6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

treated the Queen that a eucceaecyr might be named, at least appointed by 
an Act of Parliament. The Answer which they received on thk ooeasioB 
oceupieft but a short space upon the Jounuds, ^^ Martis, 16*^ Februarij, M'. 
Ck>mptioUer and M^ Secretary dedaied from the Qneen's Highness 
that she doubted not but the grave heads of this House did xight wdl 
^*' consider that she forgot not the suit of this House for Ihe Succession, the 
^^ matter being so weighty ; nor could forget it ; but the willed the young 
'^ heads to take example of the ancients/' 

In 1566, a third effort was made. Caaiden, speaking of ^tut ParBa. 
ment which met in the beginning of November that year, sa3r8, ^' after they 
had passed a bill or two, they began to debate loudly about the Succession, 
for that the Queen as if she had vowed virginity, had now, in fdfl caght 
years time thought nothing seriously of a husband : and on the one side 
the Papists propounded unto themselves the Queen of Soots, which had 
newly brought fosth a son ; on the other the Protestants, with different af- 
fections, propounded to themsdves, some one man, and some another ; and 
every of them having respect to his own security and religion, jnesaged 
the storms of a most lamentable time, if she should die without a certain 
successor'* ». 

In their Address at this time, the House of Commons having granted 
the Queen a subsidy, mixed the mention of the Succession with it The 
close of this very Address is still preserved among the Royal Letters of 
the Lansdowne Collection. It is followed by two lines in cypher in the 
hand of Lord Burghley, after which come Queen Elizabeth's Remarks 
wtittoi in a hurried band, as if in anger: 

^* Let thes two concemings into one mening, and my counsell is all 
given ; let not other regard them selves so holy as I have no comer left 
for me. Let them knowe that I .knewe, thogk I followed not, that some 
of them wold my pure conscience better served me than ther lewde prac- 
tises could availe with me. I knowe no reascm whi any my privat answers 
to the Realme shuld serve fmr prol<^ to a subsidey vote ; neither yet do 
I understand wtiy suche audacitie shuld be used to make withoute my 
licence an Acte of my wordes ; ar my wordes like lawiers bokes whiche 
nowe a dayes go to the wiar drawers to make subtall doings more plain ? lif ' 
ther no hold o( my speche without an Acte compel me to confirme ? Shall 
my princely consent be turned to strengthoi my wordes that be not of 
themselves substantives f Say no more at this time, but if thes fdlowes 
wer wel answesed and payed with lawfull co3nie ther wold be fewer counter- 
faits amonge them"\ 

The following Letter hem the Queen of Scots to the Lords of Eliza- 

« Camd. Hist. Elfa. foi. Lond. 1675. p. 83. 
> MSt Lansii. Brit Mus. Num. I2M. fol. 42. 



OBI6INAL LETTERS. 2^7 

beth'g Council, was evidently written in the expectation thmt something 
would have been effected by the Debate and the Address. 



Right trusty and weilbelovit Cousingis we greit 
you hertlie weill. Quhair as we have understand be 
report of pur familiar servitor Robert Malvile, the 
gude offers maid to our b^uif be the Queue our gude 
sustir zour Soverane : we think our self oblist^ to do 
to hur quhatsoevir a gude suster and tender eousing 
aucht, quhair she findis sa greit thankfulnes : and that 
we culd not declair the affection we beir towert our 
said dearest suster bettir, nor be that quhilk we did 
quhen we luikit not to have broukit this lyff xij^** houris 
in our lait sicknes : at quhilk t3nane our meanyng wes 
that the speciall cair of the protectioun of our Sone 
suld rest uponn our said gude suster. We beleve ze 
have alwayes bene gude ministers to move zour Sove- 
rane to schaw hir awin reasonable favor to our avanee- 
ment in that quhilk is richt, and firmlie luikis ze will 
sa eontinew. We tak oure self (as we doubt not bot 
ze knaw) to be the Quene zour Soverains nixt eousing, 
and, nixt herself and the lauchfuU yssue-of hir body, 
to have gretest interest of all uther to that quhilk hes 
bene, as is reportit, laitlie motionated in the Parlia- 
ment Hoiis. And albeit we be not of mynd to preis^ 
our said gude Suster further then sail cum of hir awin 
gude plesor till^ put that mater in questioun. Zit be 

• obliged. * preM. • to. 



ftStS ORIGINAL LETTBB8. 

caus in that cais we wilbe jfugeit be the lawis of the 
Realme of England, we do effectuuslie require zou to 
have respect to justice vdth indiflferency quhensoevir 
it sail pleis the Quene zour Soverane to put the same 
mater in deliberation. As to ws we will na wys insist 
thairin unto sic tjone as it sail pleis hir self to gif ws 
warning. We desir zou in the men tyme to have that 
opinion of ws, that as we meyn to continew all our lyfe 
in gude intelligence with the Quene zour Soverane 
and that Reahne, sa gif ony Prince hi earth wald of- 
fend the same, we wald withstand him at our uter 
power, and that ze can not advise our said dearest 
suster to extend hir favor towertis ony that sail recog- 
nosce it in a bettir sort. And so we commit zou to 
the protection of Gk)d. At Dunbar the xviij. day of 
November 1566. 

Zour gude Cousignace 

MABIE B. 

To the Lords of 
the Quenes Counsel!. . 



The sickness spoken of in this Letter, in which Maiy ^^ looked not to 
have brooked this life twdve hours,'* is mentioned by Mr. Chalmen. 
He sa3rs, '' On the 17^- October 1566 the Queen was seized with a dan- 
gerous fever, which during ten days brought her into a doubtful state; 
owing partly to her husband, and to her appr^ension of some fi^sh con- 
spiracy*." 

• Chalmers's Life of Mary Queen of Scots, edit. 8vo. 18S8. pp. 296j 297. 



OAIGINAL LKTTEES, 229 



LETTER CLXXXIX. 

Queen Elizabeth to the Lady Hohy. 

[mS. HAJIL. 7035. p. 161.] 

*^* After m specimen of Queen EUzabeth^s anger, it will not be ill-timed 
to place before the reader a specimen of tier kindness in condolence, as 
conveyed in a Letter to the Lady Hoby itpon the death of her husband. 

Sir Thomas Hoby went ambassador to France April 4^. 1566. Lord 
Burghley has the following entry relating to his death that year, in his 
Notes of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. ^^ July 13th. Sir Thomas Hobby 
died at Paris, and the Lady his wife, being then with child, broughtliis 
body afterward into England. She being great with child, which was 
bom in England, and christened by the name of Posthiunus.** ^ 



MADAM 

Although we heare that since the death of your 
husband, our late Ambassador, S*^ Thomas Hoby, you 
have received, in France, great and comfortable cour- 
tesyes from the French King, the Queen Mother, the 
Queen of Navarre and sundry others, yet we made ac- 
compt that all these layd together cannot so satisfye 
you &8 some testimony and sparke of our favour, with 
the application of the late service of your Husband, 
and of your own demeanour there : wherefore though 
you shall receive it somewhat lately in time, yet we as- 
sure you the same proceedeth only of the late knowr 
ledge of your return. And therefore we let you know 
that^the service of your Husband was to us so accept- 
able, as next yourself and your children we have not 

• Muidin's state Papers, p. 762. 



SSO ORIGINAL LKTTKKS. 

the meanest loss of so able a Servant in that falling. 
And yet since it hath so pleased Grod to call him in 
the entry of this our Service, we take it in the better 
part, seeing it hath appeared to be Grods pleasiu*e to 
call him away, so favourably to the service of him, 
especially in the constancy of his duty towards God, 
wherein, we hear say, he dyed very commendably. 

And for your self, we cannot but let you know that 
w^ hear out of France such singular good reports of 
your duty well accomplished towards your husband, 
both living and dead, with other your sober, wise, and 
discreet behaviour in that Court and Country, that we 
think it a part of great contentation to us, and com- 
mendation of our Country, that such a Gentlewoman 
hath given so manifest a testimony of virtue in such 
hard times of adversity. And therefore though we 
thought very well of you before, yet shall we hereafter 
make a more assured account of your virtues and gifts, 
and wherein soever we may conveniantly do you plea- 
sure, you may be thereof assured. And so we would 
have you to rest yourself in quietness, with a firm opi- 
nion of our especiall favour towards you. Given un- 
der our Signet at our City of Oxford the . . of Sep- 
tember 1666 : the eight year of our Reign. 

Your loving Friend 

ELIZABETH, R. 



ORICINAL LKXTKKS. S31 



LETTER CXC. 

» 

Maty Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth; written im- 
mediately upon her landing at Workington in Cum- 
berland: il%17^M668. 

[ms. cotton, cauo. c. I. fol. 68. Orig, entikklt in the quxbn*8 hand.] 

*«* Mary Queen of Scots took her flight from the Castle of Lochle^en 
May 2^. 1568 ; a few days after which, her adherents rallying powerfully 
round her, she mustered an army of no less than six thousand men. ^The 
R^ent Murray, with inferior numbers, sought to meet her ; and on May 
13-h. gained, at a short distance from Glasgow, the decisive victory of 
Langside. 

The following was the despatch from William Drury, marshal of Ber- 
wick, which announced this victory to Sir William Cecil. The original 
is still preserved among the Cottonian Manuscripts, Calig. c. i. foL 67* 

^' Right honorable accordinge to my last of the xiiijth. of this present, 
touching the encounter of the Quenes force and th'£arle of Murrayes, the 
same was true ; and th*£arle, the Viceroy, the L. Seton, the L. Ross, the 
young L. of Preston, Sir James Ambleton, the L. of Freybrowen and 
others prisoners, and divers slaine, whereof the most are of the Ambletons, 
and two captaines of footemen, as Steusrte and Loader, schonld also be 
shune and their enseyntes taken ; their ordinance is also taken, as fower 
field pieces which were the Ambletons ; and the cariage with the powder 
by some accedent, as they were fighting, took fier and blew up. Th'earle * 
did his best to stay bloud to be shed, ye by his contraryes the same is af- 
firmed. • 

^' The Quene a reasonable distance off; and gave the looking on till she 
sawe howe it proceded; but then retyred unto Dunbarton where she yet 
remaines, and not so farre followed, nor in the chase so much harme done 
as might, for that most were of foote.'* 

" From Barwick, this 15th. May 1568." 

Queen Mary, however, continuing her flight, embarked on board a fish- 
ing boat in Gkilloway with Lord Henries and a few attendants ; and, on the 
evening of the 16th. of May, landed at Workington in Cumberland, about 
thirty miles from Carlisle; whence throwing herself upon the mercy of 
Elizabeth, she wrote the Letter which is now before the Reader. 

• The Earl of Murray. 



%}S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Madame ma bonne soeur, je croys que vous n^ 
ignores point de quel temps auquns subjects, lesquels 
j'^ay fait des moyndres les premiers de mon royaulme, 
se sont mis en devoir de me travailler et fayre se a 
quoy il apert mayntenant ils tendoyent alors premier. 
Vous scaves comme ils proposerent me prandre et le 
feu roy mon mari, dont il pleut a Dieu nous guarder 
et nous permetre les chasser hors du pays, ou a votre 
requeste je les resceuts despuis, encores quails eurent 
comis en leur retour un aultre crisme de me tenir 
prisoniere, et tuer en ma presance un mien serviteur 
moy estand grosse; il pleut encores a Dieu que je^me 
sauuisse de leur mains, et comme si desubs est dit, leur 
pardonis non seulement, ajms les resceus en mesme 
faveur aupres de moy. Mays eulx non encores con- 
tenpts de tant de bienfayts, non obstant leur promesse, 
au contrere ont devise et favorise, et sign6, et asist6 a 
un crisme pour le me metre faulsement a subs comme 
j'^espere le vous fayre conoitre a plain. lis sont soubs 
ceste couleur venus en batylle contre moy, et m'^acu^ 

Translation, 

MADAM* MY GOOD SISTER, 

I BBLiXTB you are not ignorant, how long certain of my nibjects, who from the 
least of my kingdom I have raised to be the first, have taken upon themselves to in- 
volve me in trouble, and to do what it appears they had in view fiom the first. You 
know how they purposed to seise me and the late King my husband, from which at- 
tempt it pleased God to protect us, and to permit us to expel them from the country, 
where, at your request, I again, afterwards, received them ; though, on tti^ retuni, 
they committed another crime, that of holding me a prisoner, and killing in my ipxe^ 
sence a servant of mine, I being at the time in a state of pregnancy. It again plea- 
sed God, that I shoiild save myself from their hands ; and, as above said, I not only 
pardoned them, but even received them into favour. They, however, not yet sa- 
tisfied with so many acts of kindness, have^ on the contrary, in spite of thdr pro^^ 
mises, devised, favoured, subscribed to, and aided in a crime, for the purpose at 
charging it falsely upon me, as I hope fully to make you vmderstand. They have 
under this pretence arrayed themselves against me, accusing me of being ill advised. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 233 

sants d^estre mal conseill^e, et que ils desiroient me 
delivrer de mauayse eompagnie pour me resmontrer les 
choses qui requeroyent reformation. Moy me sentant 
inoscente et desireuse dVsviter le respandemant de 
sang aley me metre entre leur mayns desireus [de re- 
former,] ce qui estoit mal dispos6, incontinant ils me 
prindrent et me misrent en prison. Lors je les acusey 
de leur promesse et priay que Ton me* fit entendre 
pourquoy Ton me masnioyt aynsin ils s'absantirent 
tous. Je demanday d^estre ouie en eonseill, il me fut 
refus6. Brief, ils m^on tenue sans serviteurs que deus 
fames, et un cuisinier, et un schirurgien, et mW 
menass6 de me tuer, si je ne signoys une dimission 
de ma couroune ; se que cra3nite de soubdayne mort 
me fit fayre, comme j'ay verifi^ despuis d'*auvant toute 
la noblesse, que j'espere vous en montrer tesmoygn- 
asge. Apres ils me resairirent, et m^on accus6 et 
pro6ed6 contre moy en parlemant sans medire pour- 
quoy, ni sans m^ouir, defandant tout advocat de parler 
pour moy, contreygnant les autres de s^acorder a leur 

Translation* 
and pretending a desire to see me delivered from bad counsels, in order to point 
out to me the ttiings tliat required reformation. I« feeling myself innocent, and de- 
sirous to avoid the shedding of blood, placed myself in their hands, wishing to reform 
what was amiss. They immediately seized, and imprisoned me. When I upbraided 
them with a breach of their promise, and requested to be informed why I was thus 
treated, they all absented themselves. I demanded to be heard in Council, which 
was refused me. In short, they have kept me without any servants, except two wo- 
mea, a cook, and a surgeon; and they have threatened ttf kill me, if I did not sign 
an abdication of my Crown, which the fear of immediate death caused me to do, as 
I have since proved before the whole nobility, of which I hope to afford you evi 
denoe. 

.i^Mter this they again laid hold of me; and they have accused, and proceeded 
against me in Parllamoit, without saying why, and without hearing me; forbid- 
ding» at the same time, every advocate to plead for me; and compelling the rest to 
acquiesce in their ui^ust usurpation of my ri^ts, they have robbed me of every thing 



^i4f ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

faulse Usurpation de mon estast, m^ont jMll6e de tout 
ce que j'^auoys au monde ; ne me pennettant iainay» 
d'escrire ui parler, pour ne rien contredire a leur faul« 
ses inuantions. A la fin, il ^ pleu a Dieu me delivrer 
lors qu'^ils pansoyent me fajrre mourir, pour etre plui 
seur de leur estast, combien que ie leur ofiis reqpoD- 
dre a tout ce qu^il auroient a medire et de leur ayder 
a la punition de seulx qui seroient coulpables d'^auqun 
crisme. En fin, il pleut a Dieu me delivrer au grand 
contantement de tous mes subjects, except^ Mora, 
Morton, Humes, Glingueme, Mar, et Semple, aus- 
quels apres que toute ma noblesse fiit venue de toutes 
parts, j^envoye dire, que non obsant leur ingratitude 
et iniuste cruaut6 vsee vers moy, ie les vouloys bieti 
seraondre de leur dewoit et leur offiir seuret6 de vie 
et biens, et de tenir vn parlematit pour reformer 
toutes choses. J'«ivoie deus foys, ils prirent et enpri- 
sonerent les mesagers, firent proclamations declarant 
tous trytres ceulx qui m'^asisteroyent et coulpables de 
cest odieulx crisme. Je leur mandis qu''ils m'en nom- 

Trarulation, 

1 had in the world; never permitting me either to write* or to speak, in order that 
I might not contradict their false inventions. 

At last, it pleased God to deliver me, when they thought of putting me to deatii 
that they might make more sure of their power, thongh I repeatedly offered to an. 
swer any thing they had to say to me, and to join them in the ptinishment of those 
who should be guilty of any crime. In short, it pleased God to dehver me, to the 
great content of all my subjects, except Murray » Morton, the Rume», CUencamet 
Mar, and Semple, to whom, after that my whole nobility was oome firom all parts, I 
Rient to say, that notwithstanding their ingratitude and unjust cruelty employed 
against me, I was willing to invite them to return to their duty, and to offer theiii 
security of thdr lives and estates, and to hold a Parliament fbr the purpose of i^ 
forming every thing. I sent twice. They seised and imprisoned my giessei^ers* 
and made proclamation declaring all those persons traitors who assisted me, and were 
guilty of this odious crime. I demanded that they should namet, oAe of tfacm, and 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 235 

assent vn, je le deliureroys, les priant me delivrer ceulx 
aussi qui leur seroient nomes. lis prindrent Fofisier 
et mes proclamation, et je env(»e demander seuret6 
pour mi lord Btoyd pour trjrter apointemant ne desir- 
ant pour moy nuUe efiiidion de sang; ils le refeu- 
sarent et dirent que si auqun auoit fajli a leur regent 
et a mon fils, qu^il noment Roy, quails si me lessasent 
et se missent en leur voulontay. Se que toute la no- 
blesse prit en tres mauvayse part. Pour cela, voiant 
qu'*ils n'estoyen que particullers, et que ma noblesse 
m'esto3rt plus affectionn6e que iamays, j'esperois ave- 
ques le temps et votre faveur qu'ils seroynt reduits peu 
a peu, et voiant quails disoient me vouloir reprandre 
ou mourir tous, je m^ascheminay vers Donbertran pas- 
sant deus mille pres d^eus, ma noblesse m^acompagn- 
ant marchant en batylle entre eulx et moy, quoy voiant 
ils sortent et vienent me eouper chemin pour me pran- 
dre. Mes gens voiant cela, meulx de cete extresme 
malice pour leur eouper chemin, les rancontrent sans 

Translation. 

that I would give him up, and bagged them at the same time to dellTer to me such 
as should be named to them. They seized upon my officer, and my proclamation. I 
sent to demand a safe conduct for my Lord Boyd, in order to treat of an accommoda- 
tion, not wishing, as far as I might be concerned, for any efilustoo of blood. They 
re(\ised, saying that tliose who had not been true to their Regent, and to my son« 
whom they denominate King, should leave me, and put themselves at their disposal: 
a thing at which the whole nobility was greatly ofitoded. 

Seeing therefore that they were only a few individuals, and that my nobility were 
more attached to me than ever, I wasin hope that, in the course of time, and under 
your f&vour, they would gradually be reduced ; and seeing that they said they would 
either retake me, or all die, I proceeded toward Dumbarton, passing at tbe distance 
of two miles from them : my nobility accompanyiiH? me, marching in order of battle 
tetween them and me : which they sering, sallied forth, and came to cut off my way 
andtakeme. My people seeilig ttils, and moved by that extreme maliee of my eoc* 
mies, with a view to cheek their progress, encountned them without order, so fhaf , 
though they were twice their number, their sudden advance caused to them so greet 



S86 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

ordre, de falson que oombiai quils feusent deus foys 
aultant leur soubdajm marcher, leur fit avoir tel desa- 
vantasge que Dieu a parmis, ils soyent desconfits, et 
plusieurs tues et pris, tres cruelemant auquns tues se 
retirant et estant pris, et incontinant la chasse fut rom- 
peue pour me prandre alant a Donbertrant et mestimt 
gens par tout pour me tuer ou prandre, mays Uieu 
par son infinie bont6 ma preserv^e; m^estant sauee 
aupeis de mi lord Heris, lequel et autres signeurs qui 
sommes venu en votre pays estant asur6e qu^entend- 
ant leur cruault^, et comme ils m^ont trait6e que selon 
votre bon naturel et la fiance que j'ay en vous, non 
seulemant me resevres pour la. seurete de ma vie, mays 
m^eideres et asisterays en ma iuste querele, et semoD- 
drays les autres princes fayre le semblable. Je vous 
suplie le plus tost que pourres m'envoyer querir, car 
je suis en piteux estat, non pour rojme mays pour 
gentillfame ; car je n'^ay chose du monde que ma per- 
sone comme je me suis sauv6e, faysant soixsante miles 
a trauers chenps le premier jour, et n^ayant despuis, 
jamays os^ aller que la nuit, comme j^espere vous re» 

TranOation, 

a disadvantage that God has pennitted them to be discomfited* and several killed and 
taken ; some of them were cruelly killed, when taken on their retreat. The pursuit 
was immediately interrupted, in order to take me on my way to Dunbartcm ; they 
stationed people in every dire<^on, either to kill, or take me. But God, through his 
infinite goodness, has preserved me ; and I escaped to my Lord Herris's, who as well 
as other gentlemen have come with me into your country, being assured thathearing 
of the cruelty of my enemies, and how they have treated me, you will, confbrmably 
to your kind disposition and the confidence I have in you, not only reodve m«jfor tta 
safety of my life, but also aid and assist me in my just quarrel; and I shall solicit 
other Princes to do the same. I entreatyou to send to fetdi me as soon as you possibly 
can, for I am in a pitiable condition not only for a Queen, but for a gentlewoman } 
for I have nothing in the world but what I haid on my person when I made my esoqpa^ 
travdling rixty miles across the country the first day, and not having rinoe evct 



0KI6INAL LETTERS. 237 

montrer si il vous plest avoir pitie comme j'espere de 
mon extresme infortune, de la quelle je laysseray a 
me lamanter pour ne vous importuner, et pour prier 
Dieu qu'il vous doint en sante tres heurheuse, et 
longue vie, et a moy pasiance et la consolation que 
j^antands resevoir de vous a qui je presante mes hum- 
bles recommandations. De Wirkinton, ee xvij. de 
Mey. ^ 

Votre tres fidelle et afFectionn^e bonne 

soeur et eousine, et eschapee prisoniere 

MABIE B. 

Tratulatian, 

ventured to proceed except in the night, as I hope to declare before you if it pleases 
you to have pity, as I trust you will, upon my extreme misfortune ; of which I wfll 
forbear complaining, in order not to importune you, and to pray .God that he may 
give to you a happy state of health and long life, and to me patience, and that con- 
solation which I expect to receive from You, to whom I present my humble com- 
mendations. From Workinton, the 17ti> of May. 

Your most faithful and aflGectionate good 
sister and cousin, and escaped prisoner, 

MARY, R. 



LETTER CXCI. 

Mart/ Queen of Scots to Sir William Cecil, 

[ms. cotton, calio. c. I. fol. 81 b, Orig, kmtirblt in the qubkn's hand.] 



Mesteb Ceciles, Tequit^ dont vous awez le nom 
destre amateur et la fidelle et sincere servitude que por- 
tez a la Royne Madame ma bonne soeur, et par conse- 
quent a toutes celles qui sont de son sang et en pareille 
dignitd me fayt en ma juste querele par sur tous au- 



S38 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

tres adresser a vous en ce temps de mon trouble pour 
etre advancee par votre bon conseille que jay com- 
mande a mi lord Heris presant pcnrteur vous tayre 
entandre au long siir le quel me remetant apres metre 
recommandee a votre famme et a vous, je priray Dieu 
vous avoir en sa 8a3mte g^uarde. De Earlile ce xxviiij. 
de Mey. 

^ Votre bien bonne amye 

MARIE R. 



LETTER CXCII. 

The Lord Scrope a/nd Sir Frcmcis KnoUys to Queen 
Elizabeth^ reporting their first Interview zvith the 
Queen of Scots. 

[m8. cotton, calig. c. I. foL 79. Orig,] 



We arryved here at Karlell yesterdaye at 6 of the 
klocke after noone, and by the waye my Lord Harres 
mett us six myleg from this towne, and after he had 
discoursed of the lamentable estate of the Quene off 
Skotts his mystres, inveying motche agajmst the trea- 
sonable crueltie of hjrr enemies, gnd ^Iso sa3ang ^ 
motche as he cowlde for the innocencye of his mystres 
towchyng the murder of byr husbonde, the which 
he ]^yd wold be easelye proved yf the Quene his 
mystres myght be herd to speyke for hyr selfFe in 
your Hyghnes presence. And affyrmyng that he 
trusted your Hyghnes wolde eyther gyve hyr ayde to 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^9 

the chastenyng of hyr subjectes for her releeffe and 
comforte, or els that your Hyghnes wold gyve hyr 
leave to passe thorow your Countrye mto France to 
seeke releeffe otherwayes. Wherunto we answerd 
that your Hyghnes could in no wyse lyke hyr sekyng 
ayde in France, therbie to bryng Frenche men into 
Skotland ; and we dowted whether your Hyghnes 
coulde thjmk it mete to receavejiyr so honorablye 
into your presence as your desjrrous affectyon and 
good wyll towards hyr dyd wyshe, untyll your Hygh^ 
nes myght be well instructed and satisfyd by probable 
reasons that she was kleare and innocent of the said 
murder, by some sotche wyse man as he that myght 
sett forthe the same manyfestlye. Wheruppon, and 
throghe other conferences pryvate with me the Lord 
Skrope, he semed to determyne to ryde towardes your 
Hyghnes for that intent within a daye or twayne: 
which was the thyng that we specyally sowght for. 
And after thys, repayryng into the Castle, we fownde 
the Quene of Skottes in hyr chamber of presence rea- 
dye to receave us ; where after salutacyons made, and 
our declaration also of your Hyghnes sorowfulnes for 
hjT lamentable mysadventure and inconvenyent arry- 
valle, althoghe your Hyghnes was gladd and joyfuU of 
hyr good escape from the periyll of hjrr parsone, wjrth 
many cyrcumstances therunto belonging : and we fownd 
hyr in hyr answers to have an eloquent tonge, and a 
discreete hedd ; and it seemethe by hyr doyngs she 



S40 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS 



» 

hathe stowte courage and lyberalle harte adjoyned 
therunto ; and after owre dely verye of youre Hyghnes 
letters, she fell into some passion with the water in hyr 
eyes, and therwith she drwe us with hyr into hyr bedd 
chamber, where she complayned unto us, for that your 
Highnes dyd not answer hyr expectation for the ad- 
myttyng hyr into your presence furthwith ; that uppon 
good declaration of h3rr innocencye your Hyghnes 
wold eyther withowte delaye gyve hyr ayde yourselfie 
to the subdu3mg of hyr enemyes, or els beyng nowe 
come of good wyll and not of necessitie into your 
Hyghnes handes (for a good and greatest part of hyr 
subjects, sayd she, doe remajme faste imto hyr styll) 
your Hyghnes wold at the leaste furthwith gyve hyr 
passage throghe your Countrye into France to sedce 
ayde at other Prynces handes ; not dowt3nDg but bothe 
the Frenche Kyng and the Kyng of Spayne wold gyve 
hyr releeffe in that behalfie to hyr satisfaction. And 
here she fell into discourses that the cawse of the Warr 
and disobedient treason of the cheeffe of these hyr sub- 
ject es, was, therby to kepe that which she had to* ly- 
berally g3rven theym, by vyolence ; synce thoroe hyr 
pryvye revocation theroff within full aege they cowld 
not injoye the same by lawe. And wythall she af- 
firmed that bothe Lyddjmgton and the Lord Morton 
were assentyng to the murder of hyr husbande as it 
cowld wel be proved, althpe nowe they would seme to 

■ too. 



4 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 241 

persequte the same. Unto the fyrst parte whereoff we 
answerd that your Hyghnes was inwardly sorye and 
verye moche greved that youe cowld not doe hyr that 
great honor to admytt hyr solempnly and worthely 
into your presence, by reason off this great sclander 
of murder wheroff she was not yet purged. But we 
sayde we were sure that your Hyghnes affection to- 
wards hjrr was great, that whether hyr Grace could 
purge hjrr selffe or not in that behalffe, yet yf she 
wold depend uppon your Hyghnes favor, without 
sekjHig to brjmg in strangers into Skotland (the ym- 
ynent danger wheroff your Hyghnes cowld not suffer) 
then undowtedly youre Hyghnes wold use all the con- 
venyent meanes youe cowld for hyr releefe and cum- 
forte. And withall we sayd that yff it wold please 
h3rr Grace to directe us therunto, we wold advertise 
your Hyghnes of those hyr declarations with all spede, 
uppon answer wherof we should be hable to declare 
fiirder of your Hyghnes intent and meanyng ; where- 
with hyr Grace complayned motche of delayes to hyr 
prejudice, and wynnyng of tyme to hyr enemyes, so 
that discontentedlye she contented hyrselffe therwyth. 
Wheruppon we tooke owre leave saying we wold dis- 
patche awaye with all possyble spede ; also the Queue 
of Skottes dothe presently send upp the L. Herrys 
with hyr Letters for spedie resolution. 

And nowe it behovethe your Hyghnes, in myne 
opynyon, gravely to consyder what answer is to be 

VOL. II. R 



24lii OBIGINAL LETTERS. 

made herein, specially bycawse that many gentlemen 
of dyvers sheres heare neare adjoynyng within your 
realme, have herde hyr daylye defences and excuses of 
hjr innocencye, with hyr great accusations of hyr 
eimemyes very eloqwently told before our oomyng 
bether. And therfore I the Vicechamberlayn dp re- 
ferr to your Hyghnes better oon&dderatioa, whether it 
were not honorable for youe in the syght gi your sub- 
jectes and of all forra}m prynces, to put h3rF grace to 
the choyse whether she woll departe &ely b^i^e k^to 
hyr cuntrye withowt your Hyghnes 3nfapeehein«ait, or 
whether she woll remayne at your Hy^^uies. devotion 
within youre realme here with her necessarye servants 
onely to attend uppon hyr to see howe honorablye 
your Hyghnes can doe for hyr. For by this meanes 
your Hyghnes, I thynk, shall iitopp the mowthes of 
backbyters that otherwyes wold blowe owte seditious 
rumors as well in your owne reahne as elswhere off 
detaynyng of hyr ungratfuUy. And yet I thynke it is 
lykely that yf she had so hyr owne choyse, she wold 
not goe backe into hyr owne realme presentlye, nor 
untyll she myght looke for succors of men owte of 
France to joyne with hyr there : or yf she wold goe 
presently into hjrr owne cuntrye, the worst were that 
peradventure with danger ynoughe she myght get into 
France, and that wold hardly be done, yf my L. of 
Murraye have a former ynkleth of her departure tlie- 
ther. And on the other syde she Ca^i no^ be kepte ao 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 243 

rygorously as a prysoner with your Hyghnes honor 
(in mjn op3myon) but with devyces of towels or toyes 
at hyr chamber w3nndow, or els where, in the nyght, 
a bodye of hyr agyljrte and spyryte may eskape soone, 
beyng so neare the border. And surely to have hyr 
caryed furr into the realme is the hygh waye to a dan- 
gerous sedition, as I su{^x>se. Thus ceassing to troble 
your Majestie we wyshe the same prosperous felicitye, 
with long e(mtinuance off healthe to the pleasure c^ 
God, and good contentation of all your good subjects 

Your Majesties most humble and 
obedient Servants 

H. SCROPE 
F. KNOLLYS. 



^ LETTER CXCIII. 

Sir Francis KnoUys to Queen Elizabeth^ reporting 
another Interview with Queen Mary^ in which he 
intimated to her that the crime of mv/rder might he 
deemed a just cause Jbr deposing a Sovereign. 

[ms. cotton. CALI&. c. I. foL 82. Orig.'\ 



This daye ymmediatly after d3njner the Quene of 
Skottes before the closing upp of hyr Letters directed 
to your Majestie by my Lord Herrys, in private com- 
munication with my Lord Skrope and me, fell into 
hyr ordinarye invaying agaynst my Lord of Murraye 



S44! ORIGINAL LETTERS^ 

and his adherents, saying amongest other things that 
whan she was but nine days owlde, they had a reverent 
and obedient care of hjrr ; but nowe say the she, that I 
am twenty foure yeres owlde they wolde exclude me 
from government lyke disobedient rebels. 

Wherupon I thowght with my selffe that jt.I should 
not object sumwhat to make the matter disputable, 
whether the Lordes of Skotlond deposing hyr from 
the government (althoghe not by hyr owne inward 
consente yet by hyr subscription) dyd well or not, 
thkt then she wold more clamorously be offended with 
youre M ajestie yff youe should not answer h3rr re- 
qwestes according to hyr expectation : wherfore I ob- 
jected unto hyr that in some cases Prynces myght be 
deposed from theyr government by theyr subjects law- 
fully, as yff a Prynce should fall into madnes. In this 
case good subjects myght depose theyr Prynce from 
government and restrayne hym from lybertie. And 
(sayd I) what dyfference is there betwene Lunecye and 
cruell murderyng, for the one is an evyll humor pro- 
ceding of malyncolye, and the other is an evyll humor 
proceding of color ^: wherfore the qwestion ys whe- 
ther your Grace deserved to be put from the govern- 
ment or not, for yf your Grace should be gyltye of any 
sctche odyous cryme as deservethe deposall, then (sayd 
I) howe should they be blamed that have deposed 
youe. Hereuppon hyr Grace begynnyng to kleare hyr 
selffe after hyr acustomed maner, the tears yet fell from 



. OttlGINAL LElVfERS. 245 

h3rr eyes. And then I sayd your Hyghnes wold be 
the gladdest in the world to see hyr Grace well pur- 
ged of this cryme, that therby your Hyghnes myght 
ayde hyr fully and amplelye to the advancement of 
hyr Grace to hyr govemement Royall agayne : for hyr 
Grace I sayde was your Hyghnes nerest kinswoman 
on the fathers syde", and that youe were bothe borne 
in one continent of lande, althoe this seperation was 
betwene youe, that youe were not bothe borne in one 
circute of obedience. Herewith hyr Grace answerd 
me very curtysely, but forthewith she sayd she must 
goe close upp hyr Letters to your Hyghnes, and so 
departed to hyr^bed chamber. This farr I waded with 
hyr Grace to make hyr cawse disputable, but whan I 
sawe hyr tears, I forbayre to prosequte myn objection, 
and fell to comfortyng of hyr with declaration of your 
Hyghnes great affection and good wyll towards hyr. 
Althoe I thynk it necessarye that M' Secretarye be 
made privie hereoff, yet how farr otherwayes to be 
ymparted I referr to your Hyghnes pleasure. And 
thus dayly praying for your Majesties prosperous pre- 
servation I shall commyt the same to God. From 
Carlylle this Sonday the 30 off Maye at nyght. 
Your Hyghnes most humble 
and obedient subject and servant 

F. KNOLl^YS. 



• Sir Francis Knollys was himself as near a kinsman to Elizabeth, by the mother's 
side. 



246 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Iir a subeequent Letter to Sir WilUam Cecil, dated Carlisle June 11th. 
156S, Sir Frandfl KndHy^ draws the following character of Queen Mary : 

— **• And yet this Ladie and piynoes Is a notable woman. She semethe 
to regard no ceremonious honor beqrde the admowkgyng of her estate re* 
gaUe. She shoethe a disposition to speake motche, to be bold, to be ple- 
sant, and to be very famylyarew She shoetfae a great desyer to be avenged 
of hyr enemyes. She shoethe a redines to esqpcme hyrselfie to all perylls 
in hoope off victorie. She ddTtethe motche to here of hardines and yali- 
ancye ; oommendyng by name all approved hardye men of hir oountrye al- 
thoe they beJiyr enemyes; and she ooncealeth no cowardnes even in hyr 
fiendes. The thyng that most she thirstethe after is victorye, and it sem- 
eth to be indifferent to hyr to have hyr enemyes demynyshed eyther by the 
sword of hyr frendes, or by the lyberall promyses and rewardes of hyr puise^ 
or by devysyon and qwarylls raysed amongst the3nn selves : so that for vic- 
tories sake payne and parylle semethe plesant unto hyr. And in rei^ect 
of victorie, wdthe and all things semethe to hyr contemptuous and vyle. 
Nowe what is to be done with sotche a Ladye and Pryncesse, or whether 
sotche a pryncesse and ladie be to be norysshed in ones boaome, or whether 
it be good to halte and dissembyll with sotche a ladye I referr to your 
judgement.** 



LETTER CXCIV. 

Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth, a Letter of 
eocpostvloition concerning her intended remcnalfrofm 
Carlisle. 

[ms. cotton, calio. c. I. foL 121. TrantL^ 

*«* The following Letter is a Translation of the time, and was periiaps 
prepared for the use of Queen Eliiabeth. 

Elizabeth had great fondness for the Latin and Italian tongues, but, late 
in life at least, seems, like her sister Mary the First, to have had but small 
love for, and probably little skill in French. Though Mary and Eliza- 
beth were both instructed in that language under the direction of Queen 
Catherine Parr ». 

• Among the Royal Manuscripts in the British Museum is a small volume in an 
embroidered binding, consisting of Prayers and Meditations selected from different 
English writers by Queen Catherine Parr, and translated and written by flie Princess 
f:iizabe(h, in Latin, French, and Italian. The Volume is dedicated to King Henry 
the Eighth ; and dated from Hertford Dec. 20*>>. 1645. Camden also mentions " A 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S47 

It isifemarkable tliat the sakne vtHumes of the Cottonian Collection which 
contain the original Letters of Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth, 
likewise contain translations of the greater part of them, in L&tin, Written 
with care, Mid occasionally with a d^ree of el^anoe. For what purpose 
these Versions were made, is not known. It has been conjectured that 
these also were made fbt Queen Elizabeth. 



MADAME 

Although the necessitee of my cause (which 
makith me to be importune to you) do make you to 
judge that I am out of the way, yet such as have not 
my passion, nor the respects wherof you ar perswad- 
ed, will think that I do as my cause doth requyre. 
Madame I have not accused you, neither in wordes 
nor in thought, to have usid your self evell towardes 
me; and I beleeve that you have no want of good un- 
derstanding to keepe you from perswasioh against 
your naturall good incly nation. But in the meane 
tyme I cannot chose (having my senses) but perceive 
very evell furderance in my matters, sence my com- 
ming hither. I thought that I had sufficiently discburcid 
unto yow the discommodities which this delay bring- 
eth unto me. And spetially, that they^ think in this 
next moneth of August, to hold a Parlement against 
me and all my servants. And in the meane tyme I 
am stayde heere, and yet will you that I shuld put my 
self further into your Gontrey (without seeing you) 
and remoove me further from myne, and there to do 

godly Meditation of the Soulc, concerning a Love towardes Christe our Lorde" trans- 
lated by her from the French. Compare Lor^ Orford's Royal and Noble AUthcMnt, 
in06. vol. i. p. 88. 
• Her rebellious subjects. 



248 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

me this dishonnor at the requestes of my RebeUes, as 
to send Commissioners to heere theim against me, as 
you wold do to a meane subject ; and not heere me by 
mouth. Now Madame, I have promised you to come 
to you : and having there made my mone and com- 
plaint of those Rebelles, and they comming thither not 
as possessers but as subjectes to answer, I wold have 
besought you to heere my justification of that which 
they have faulsly set furth against me : and if I could 
not purge myself therof, you might then discharge 
your handes of my causes, and let me go for such as 
I am. But to do as you say, if I wer coulpable, I 
wold be better advised. But being not so, I cannot 
accept this dishonnor at their handes, that being in 
possession they will comme and accuse me before your 
Commissioners, wherof I cannot lyke. And seeing 
you think it to be against your honor and cousjmage 
to do otherwise, I beseech you that you will not be 
myne enemye untill you may see how I can discharge 
my self every waye. And to sufire me to go into 
France where I have a dowery to mainteyn me ; or 
at the least to go into Scotland, with assurance that 
if there come any. strangers thither, I will bjmd my 
self for their retoume without any prejudice to you. 
Or if it please you not to do thus, I protest that I 
will not impute it to falshode if I receyve strangers 
in my contrey, wythout makyng you any other dis- 
charge for it. Do with my body at your will, the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 249 

honnor or blame shalbe yours. For I had rather dy 
heere, and that my faythfull servants may be suc- 
courid (though you wold not so) by strangers, then to 
suffer theim to be utterly undon upon h . . * to re- 
ceyve in tyme to come particuler commodite. There 
be many things that moove me to feare that I shall 
have to doo in this contrey with other then with yow. 
But forasmuch as nothing hath followed upon my last 
mone, I hold my peace. Happen what may happe, 
I have as leef to abyde my fortune, as to seeke it and 
not fynde it. Further, it pleased you to gyve lycence 
to my subjects to go and come. This hath ben re- 
fusid me, by my Lord Scroope and M'. Enolles (as 
they say) by your commandement, because I wold 
not depart hence to your charge untill I had answer 
of this Lettre; though I shewed them that yow re- 
quyred my answer upon the two pointz conteyned in 
your Lettre. Th''one is (to let you breefly undelrstand 
them) I am come to you to make my mone to you ; 
the which being heard, I would declare unto you myne 
innocency, and then requyre your ayde. And for lack 
therof I cannot but make my mone and complaint to 
God, that I am not heard in my just quarell ; and to 
appele to other Princes to have respect therunto, as 
my case requ3rreth ; and to you Madame first of all, 
when you shall have examjmid your conscience be- 
fore and have him for witnes : and th'other, which 

» /. hit. 



250 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

is to come further into your Contrey, and not to come 
to your presence : I will esteefne that as no favor, but 
will take it for the contrary : obeying it as a thing 
forced. 

In the nieane tyme I beseech yow to retoume to 
me my Lord Heris, for I cannot be without him, 
having none of my counsell heere ; and also to sufire 
me, if it please you, without further delay, to depart 
hence, whither so ever it be, out of this Contree. I 
am sure you will not deny me this simple request for 
your honor'*s sake, seing it doth not please you to use 
your naturall goodnes towards me otherways. And 
seeing that of mjme accord I am come hither, let me 
depart againe with yours. And if God permit my 
causes to succeede well, I shalbe bownd to you for it ; 
and happeninge otherwise, yet I cannot blame you. 

As for my lord Flemin, seeing that upon my credit 
you have suflfred him to goo home to his house, I war- 
rant you he shall passe no further, but shall retoome . 
when it shall please you. In that you trust me I 
will not (to dy for it) deceave you: but from Don- 
bertran, I answer not, when my L. Flemyn shalbe in 
the Towr ; for they which ar within it will not let to 
receive soucoUrs^ if I do not assure theim of yours. 
No, though you wold charge me withall. For I have 
left them in charge to have more respect to my ser^ 
vants and to myne estat, then to my life. 

Good suster be of an other mynde. Wyn the 



OKIGIKAL LETTEUS. 251 

hart, and all shalbe yours, and at your command- 
ment. I thought to satisfy you holely, if I might 
have seene you. Alas do not as the serpent that 
atoppeth his heering, for I am no inchanter, but your 
suster and naturall cousyne. If Cesar had not dis« 
dajrnid to heere or reede the complaint of an adver<^ 
tiser, he "had not so d3red. Why should Prince's 
eares be stopped, seeing they are payntid so long; 
meaning that they shuld heere all, and be well ad-> 
vised before they answer. I am not of the nature of 
the basilisk, and lesse of the camelions, to tume you 
to my lykenesse : and though I shuld be so danger- 
ouse and curst as men say, yow ar sufficiently armyd 
with Constance, and with justice, which I requyre of 
God, who give you grace to use it well, with longe 
and happy lyfe. From Carlile this v*'\ of July 1568. 

Your good suster and cousyne 

MABYE R. 



lETTER CXCV. 

Tlie Lord Herrys to Lord Scrope and Sir Frcmcis 

Knollys, 

[ms. cotton, calio. c. I. foL 149. Orig,'\ 



QuHEN thair was no laws minstrat^ upone the 
Marches bot suir I am thair is thrys alsmekill stowin ^ 

» ministred. ->> as much stolen. 



52o2 OKIi;iXAL L£TT£B$. 

out of Scotland an out off Ingland. And quhair it is 
said yat ony proud Attemptat is me\nt to be maid 
upone Ingland be ony that now obeyes our maistres, it 
is maist wntrew* and inventit to displesour ye Quenis 
Ma^' of Ingland, as thay do mony sik things to sett 
fordwart thair awin toms^ Bot Grod y' is the author 
of trewt will not latt the trewt alwayes w* falfett*' be 
exprest. And thus committing zo*" LL. to his divyne 
protection I tak my leif for ye pn't. Off DrOfres ye 
xvij of August 1568. 

Your LL. assurit to comand 

att my power leiffullie 

HEBYS. 

To the Ryt honorables and my 
werie gud Lordis My Lord Scrop 

and Maister Lord 

of the Quenis majesteis moist 
honorable privie Counsaile. 



LETTER CXCVL 

Mary Queen of Scots to Sir Frcmcis KnoUys^ from 
Bolton, Sept. 1'* 1668 : herjirst Letter in English. 

[m8. cottok. calio. c. I. fol. 161 b. Orig.] 

•^* The Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, when written in her own 
hand, are ahnost uniformly in French. She was not six yean old when 
she sailed from the Clyde for France. She arrived at Brest on August 
13th. 1548. After passing a few days at Court, she was conveyed to a 

■ untrue. ^ their own turns. • safety. 



ORIGINAL LETTEES. 253 

Nunnery for education, and there remained till the time of her marriage 
with the Dauphin. Her acquaintance with her native language, at least 
till her return to Scotland in 1561, must have been slight; though M^ 
George Chalmers sajs that at the opening of the Parliament of May 1563, 
she delivered a speech in her native language ". 

From the following Letter it is evident that she studied English very 
soon after her removal from Carlisle to Bolton ; Sir Francis Knoll3r8 un- 
dertaking himself to instruct her. Nicholas White, who had been sent 
to Tutbury to talk with Mary, writes thus to Sir William Cecil, Feb. 
28th. 1569 : 

^' This much past, she harde the English sarvice with a Booke of the 
Psalmes in Englishe in hir hand, which she showed me after. When 
sarvice was done, hir Grace fell in talke with me of sundry matters from 
six to seven of the Clocke, beginning first to excuse her ill Englishe, 
declaring hir self more willing then apt to leme that language ; howe she 
used translations as a meane to attayn.it ; and that M^ Vice Chamberlayn 
was hir good scole-master." b 



Mesteb Enoleis, y heuu har*^ sum neus from 
Scotland ; y send zou the double off them y vreit^ to 
the quin® my gud sister, and pres^ zou to du the lyk, 
conforme to that y spak zestemicht vnto zou, and sut 
hesti ansur y refer all to zour discretion, and wil lipne 
beter in zour gud delink for mi^, nor y kan persuad 
zou, nemli in this langasg'^ excus my iuel vreitin*^ for 
y neuuer vsed it afor, and am hestet^ Ze schalsi my 
bel" vhuilk" is opne, it is sed Seterday my unfrinds 
wil bi vth** zou, y sey nething bot trests weil, and ze 
send oni to zour wiff ze mey asur her schuP wald a 
bin weilcom to apur* strenger, hua"^ nocht bien' 
aquentet vth° her, wil nocht bi ouuer bald* to vreit 

• Life of Mary, Q. of Sc. vol. i. p. 168. >> Haynes's State Fapen, p. sio* 

• I have heard. ' wrote. • Queen. ' pray* * dealing, 
k me. > languaf^. >> writing. i hasted. ■> bill. 

■ quhilk. o with. p she. « a poor. ' who. 

• not being. * bold. 



^4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

bot for the aquentans betuix ous^. Y wil send zou 

letle tekne^ to rember*^ zou off the gud hop y heuu** 

in zou, guef*^ ze fend^ a mit^ mesager y wald wysh 

ze bestouded^ it reder* apon her non^ ani vder; thus 

effter my commendations y prey God heuu** zou in 

his kipin. 

Zour asured gud frind 

Excus my iuel vreitin MARIE R. 

thes furst tym. 



Queen Mary*8 predilection for ike French tongue is observable upon 
many occasions. Even James her son coiresponded with her in it One 
of his Letters to her in that language will occur hereaftex. 

In the Anthologie Frangoise, tom. L p. 19. We have the following Chan- 
9on of her composition, written upon her quitting France in 1561 . 

" Adieu« pUttsaat pay» de France, 

O ma patri« la plus cherie. 
Qui as Doarri ma Jeune enfanoe ! 
Adieu, France, adieu mes beaux jours. 
La Nef qui d^-joint nos amours, 

N'a cy dc. moi que la moiti^ ; 
Una part te teste, die est ticnne; 

Jc la fie a ton amitid 
Pour que de I'autre il te souvienae." 



LETTER CXCVII. 

Bernard Randolph Common Serjeant of L^ondon, to 
Sir William Cedly upon the practice of a Game 
called Rifiing, 

[ms. lansd. BRIT. Mus. KUM. 11. art. 22. Or%g,\ 



Rights honcnrable, nft^ my humble diftetie to your 
Honor remembred, pleasethe the saj»e to be adver- 

• Us ; i, e. hersielf and Sir Francia Kmdles. <> a little token. • remember. 

<> have. e gif,.if. 'find. ir meet. >> bestowed, 

rather. k than. 



OttlGINAL LETTEES. ^5 

tised that I (allthouglx most unworthie) being by dy- 
vysion lymytted under your honor and M^ Deane to 
the Citie of Westminster and lyberties of the same, 
aswell for thexamynaeion of rogues and sturdye va- 
gabondes and masterlesse men, as also for to puny she 
other enormyties and mysdemeanors iheare; to the 
whiche precincte above other in the Shire, in th''ab- 
sence of your honor (and the said MJ^. Deane) I 
thinck myself more bounden to have a vigillant eye 
then if the same Mr Deane weai^ at home^ or your 
honor somewhat nearer. And repayring thither this 
daye (as comonlie I doo but ones everye fortenigbt 
yf I have no especial cause), but this is the thirde 
tyme of my goinge thither, to examyn a lewde per- 
sone whoe hathe stolen diverse parcells of brass and 
copper that did adorne the Tombe of the late Kinge 
of famouse memorie Henrie the Seventhe and Queene 
Elizabeth his wife. And at my nowe comynge thi- 
ther M\ Staunton and others of th^inhabitants of the 
said Cytie, gave me to und^stande thait there was a 
greate disorder in or near Long Acre, by reason of 
certain Games that were proclaymed there to be ex-r 
erciaed, wheare indede theare was none used but one 
oalie Game, called RifUnge, by which they saide di- 
verse persons weare spoyled an^ utt^rlie widon. 
Wherv^ppon I comaunded M^ CcJibrand6 the hi^f 
Constable of the saide Cytie and Lyberties (taking 
with hym suche nomber of petit constables and others 



HoG ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

as to his discression sholde seme mete, and sendinge 
before worde to the constable of S'. Gyles in the 
fieldes to mete hym theare) to goe thither, and not 
onlie to apprehende all persones that sholde be fomide 
theare usinge the same game, but also them that kepte 
the same games. And I my self went also thither for 
the quieter apprehendinge of them, for I was in- 
formed by the said M^ Staunton that theare was a 
very greate nomber, and the nomber I thinck was 
muche the greater by reasone of the concourse of peo- 
ple thither to se one l3ringe theare that was slayne 
theare this momyng. Wheruppon the Keper of the 
same Games was broughte before me, but none of 
them that played theare: and yet one of my owne 
Servants, whom I sent pryvylie thither for that pur- 
pose, did see that game of Rjrflinge in use theare at 
that tyme. But I thincke pry vie wamynge wasgyven 
when I was perceyved to bende my selfe that waye. 
Maye it please your Honor, I commytted the Keper 
of the same Game to warde, meanynge neverthelesr 
uppon sute to bayle hym untill the general Sessions. 
And forasmuche as he is one of the Quene^s Majes- 
tie's Servants, and hathe a Lycence for laufull Games 
signed by th'andes of the right honorables the Lorde 
Stewarde, the Lorde of Amindell, and the Lorde of 
Leicester (the copye wherof I have taken and intende 
to kepe the same), and he was in tymes past servant 
to the saide Lorde of Arrundell. And for that before 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 951 

this tyme I have had some stoute and sharpe wordes 
when I have don even favorable justice to honorable 
mens servants, and doubting what S3n[iister complainte 
may be now againste me to any of honorable person- 
ages abovenamed, I have thought good to make your 
Honor pryvie of this my doinge, humblie praying 
your good Honor's ayde if I shall have nede of the 
same. And beinge verie sorie to trouble your Honor 
with this my longe rude Lettre, I comytt the same to 
the tuyssion of the Allmightie whoe ever preserve you 
in helthe and welthe longe to cont3n[iue, with increase 
of much honor. Written the fourth of this Septem- 
ber 1569. 

Your Honor's to commande to my little power 

BERNARD RANDOLPH, 

Commen Serjiomt of London. 

To the right honorable Sir William Cecyll 
Knight^ principall Secretarie to the Quene's 
Majestie be theis gyven withe good spede. 



LETTER CXCVIII. 

Bishop Grmdal to Sir William Cecil, ammcuncvng the 
Death cmd Funeral of Bishop Bonner. 

[ms. lansd* num. XI. art. 64. Orig.'\ 

*^* Little need be said here of Edmond Bonner, except that he was 
elected bishop of liondon in 1539, and was deprived by two several Com- 
missions bearing date the 8^. and 17'^ of September 1559. Upon 
Queen Elizabeth's accession, ^' when the bishops came in a body to make 
their obeisance to her, she expressed to all of them sentiments of regard, 

VOL. II. ' S 



258 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

except to Bomier, from whom the tuned M&de, as from a man polluted 
with blood, who was a just object of honor to every heait susceptible of 
humanity"*. 

Bishop Orindal, the writer of this Letter, was one of our earliest horti- 
culturists. His Grapes at Fulham, mentioned in the postscript, are stated 
by Strype to have been esteemed of that value, and a fruit the Queen stood 
•0 well affected to, and so early ripe, that the bishop used every year to send 
her Majesty a present of them ^. 



SIR, 

As I dowbte nott butt ye have hearde oiEP D. Boners 
deathe, so thinke I it goode to certifie you off the 
order off his buriall. The sayde D. Bonner hadde 
stande excommunicate by a sentence in the Arches 
eight or nine yeares, and never des3ared absolution; 
wherfore, by the lawe, Christiane sepulture mighte 
have ben denyed him : butt we thowghte nott goode 
to deale so rigorouslye, and therfore permitted him to 
be buried in S. Georges churche yarde : and the same 
to be doone nott in the daye solemnely, butt in the 
nighte privilye : which I and some other with whome 
I conferred thowghte requisite in thatt persone, for 
two causes. One was, I hearde that diverse his po- 
pishe cousins and frendes in London assembled them 
selfes, entendynge to honor his fiineralle so moche as 
they cowlde: off which honor suche a persequutor was 
nott worthye, and speciallye in these dayes. An- 
other was, for thatt I feared that the people off the 
Cittie (to whome Bonner in his liffe was most odi- 
ouse) iff they hadde scene tLockyag^ off Papistes 

* nume« Hist Engl, and Burnet, voL iL p. 8T4. <> Lif(^ of Bishop Cirindal, p. 146. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 269 

abowte his coffin, the same beynge well decked and 
covered, &c, they wolde have ben'mooved with indig- 
nation, and so some quarrellynge or tumulte mighte 
have ensued therupon. By his nighte buriall both 
the inconveniences have ben avoydette, and the same 
generally her well lyked. Whatt shalle be judged ofF 
it att the Courte I can nott tell ; it is possible the re^ 
porte off his buriall shalle nott ther be made trulye : 

but this I write imto you is the verie truthe. 

# # # # # 

From Fulham, 9". Septembr. 1569. 

Yo' in Christe 
My Grapes this yeare are not edm. London. 

yett rype ; abowte the ende off 
the nexte weeke I hoope to 
sende some to the Queen'^s 

Ma*'*. 

To the right honorable S'. Wil- 
liam Cedll^ knighte Secretarie to the 
Quenes Ma^®. 



LETTER CXCIX. 



letter of pass^'Jrom the^Earb of Northumberland 
and Westmoreland to their adherents^ du/rmg the 
In^rrectwn, of 1569. 

[us. COTTOK. CAiia. B. ix. foL 400. Orig.'l 

*^* For an Aooount of the RebeUion of the Earls of Northumberland 
and Westmoreland in 1569, the^reader is lefenred to Camden's Annals Of 



960 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

Queen Eliabetfa. Northnmberkiid having fled into Scotland and been 
betrayed, irai beheaded at York August 22^. 1572. Westmoreland, says 
Camden, ** found a lurking place with Cair of Femiherst, and Badiluy, 
and at length escaped with some Englishmen into the Netherlands, where 
he led a very poor life, even to his old age, living upon a very slender 
pension from the Spaniard.** 



Theis shalbe to will and commaund yow to permytt 
and suffer this berar Jelberd Havers to passe and re- 
passe from place to place wher his busynes lyeth, 
without lett or truble of yow or any of yow, as yow 
will awnswere the contrary at your perill. From 
Dursham this xv^ of Decembre 1569* 

NORTHUMBEELAND. C. WESTMEELANDE. 

To all and every the servants^ 
tenents^ and adherents of th*£rle8 
of Northumberland and Westmer- 
land, ther flfrynds^ confederats^ and 
allies. 



LETTER CC. 

Letter ofWa/rramifrom Queen Elizabeih to Sir Tluymas 
Smith and ly. Wihon^ Jbr putting two of the Duke 
qfNor/blk'*s Servants to the rack. 

[ms. cottok. calio. c. III. foL 229. Ortg,^ 

« 
*^* The criminal enterprizes of the Duke of Norfolk to obtain the 
libei^ of the Queen of Soots, are fully detailed by most of the Historians 
of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Numerous Letters, and other materials 
relating to this subject, are also to be found in Murdin*8 Collection of the 
Burghley Papers. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. . 261 

The following Letter of warrant from Queen Elizabeth, permitting the 
ToRTUAE to be applied to the Duke*s servants, Barker and Banister, is 
somewhat curious. It is remarkable that the body of the Letter is in the 
hand.writingof Lord Buighley. 

That thfe Torture was applied seems certain. Two days subsequent to 
the date of this Letter, Sir Thomas Smith writes thus to Lord Burghley 
from S^ Katherines, respecting Barker's, Banister's, and the other ex- 
aminations. 

*' I suppose we have gotten so much as at this time is like to be had : 
yet tomorrow do we intend to bring a couple of them to the Rack) not in 
any hope to get any thing worthy that pain or fear, but because it is so 
earnestly commanded to us. As for Barker, I thynk he hath and will con- 
fess so much as his wit wHl serve him; and yet, as itappeareth, hath been 
the most doer betwixt the Duke and other foreign practisers. Banister 
is somewhat obstinate, but little" he knowetlu Wesend3F0u his. Barker's, 
Higford's, and Charles's examinations more than you have had already. 
I pray you trust that tomorrow we will do what we can do."*. 



ELIZABETH B. By th^ Quene. 

Right trusty and welbeloved we grete yow well, 
and fynd3n[ig in the traytoroos attempts lately disco- 
vered that nether Barker nor Bannister the Duke of 
Norfolks men have uttred ther knolledg, nother will 
discover the same without torture ; forasmuch as 
the knoUedg herof concemeth our suerty and estate, 
and that they have luitruly allredy answered, We will 
and by warrant herof authoriss you to procede to the 
f urder examynation of them uppon all pojnits thiat you 
caUji^hynk by your discretions mete for knolledgof the 
truth. And, they shall not seme to yow to confess 
playnly ther knolledg, than we warrant yow to cause 
them both, or ether of them, to be brought to the rack : 

■ Muidin's State Fapen, p. 95. 



S6S ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

and first to move than with feare therof to deale 
playnly in ther answers, and if that shall not move 
them than yow shall cause them to be putt to the 
rack, and to find the tast therof untill they shall deale 
more ^layvly^ or untill yow shall thynk mete. And 
so we remitt the whole procedyng to your furder dis- 
cretion, requiryng yow to use spede herin and to re- 
quire the assistance of our Lieutenant of the Toure. 
Gyven under our signet the xv? of Septemb. 1571. 

To 0" tmstie and right well beloved 
CocmBellors S% Thomas . . yth K^ and 
too'' tie and welbeloved Doc- 
tor .. . son one of the Masters of our 
Requestes. 



Indorsed 



Receaved at the Towir the 
xyj. daie of 7'*'. at eleven 
of the docke in the fore* 
noone 1571. 



LETTER CCI. 

Queen Elizabeth to Lord Burgidet/y to stay the ewecU" 
turn of the Duke of Norfolk, a. d. 1572. 

[mS. MU8. A8B1I0L. OXOV. Orig. XKTIRELY IK THE QUEXV'S 

HAKD.] 

*^* Carte informs us, from Fenelon*8 Despatches, that Queen EHsi- 
"beth revoked no fewer than four wanants for the Duke of Norfolk's 
execution. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 963 

*^ Having eigned, on Friday, February 8<^." he says, '' a warrant for 
the I>uke*8 execution the next day, she countermanded it about eleven at 
night; and having signed another on February the 27^* revoked it the 
next morning, two hours before day. Two other warrants were afterwards 
signed, the last of them on Thursday April 10^ ; but both revoked in the 
same manner"*. 

The last Letter of revocation was the one which is now placed before 
the Reader. 



My Lord me thinkes that I am more beholdinge 
to the hindar part of my hed than wel dare trust the 
forwards side of the same, and therfore sent to the 
Levetenant and the S., as you knowe best, the Ordar 
to defar this execution till the^ here furdar. And 
that this may be done I doubte nothing, without cu- 
riositie of my further warrant, for that ther rasche de- 
termmation upon a very unfit day was countermaun- 
ed by your considerat admonition. The causes that 
move me to this ar not now to be expressed, lest an ir- 
revocable dede be in mene while committed. If the** 
wyl nides a Warrant, let this suffice, all written with 

my none hand. 

Your most lovinge Soveraine 

ELIZABETH A. 
Ind(»8ed in Lord Burghley*s hand. 

xj. Ap». 1572. 

The Q. Ma^y with hir own 
hand^ for staying of the Ex- 
ecution of the D. N. 

I^ at 2 in the Morning. 

Carte ascribes these successive revocations of £he Duke of Norfolk's 
execution to dissimulation on the part of the Queen, till the House of Com. 

• Carte, voL iii. pp. 535j 526, ^ they. 



S64 O&IGINAL LKTT£R8. 

mont by a violent addzeas ahould sanction her seyerity. Hume seems to 
doubt whether she might not really have been moved by friendship and 
compassion toward a peer of the Duke (^Norfolk's rankand merit. And 
he is peifaaps supported by Loid Burghley himsdf, who, in a Letter to 
Sir Francis Walsingham, who was then our ambassador at Paris, dated 
June 9^. 1572, intimates that the Queen was ** somewhat sad** at the 
Duke of Norfolk's death. He says, '^ As to your Ijetten to her Majesty, 
for as much as the Duke of Norfolk had sufibred upon Monday and your 
Letters came on Tuesday, I thought not amisse to teU the Queen's Ma- 
jesty that I had Letters from You to Her, which I thought were ondy to 
shew her the opinion of wise men and her Majesty's well willers in France, 
both for the Scottish Queen and the Duke of Norfolk ; whereupon she bad 
me open the Letters, and so I did in her presence, and she being some- 
what SAD for the Duke of Norf<dks death, I took occasion to cut off the 
raging thereof, and so entered into speech of the Queen of Scots, iirhich 
she did not mislike, and commended your care and diligence" *• 

The Duke of Norfolk was the first nobleman who was beheaded in tibe 
reign of Queen Elisabeth, 



LETTER ecu. ' 
Sir Nicholas Bacon to Lord Burghley. 

• [ms. laksd. 14. art. 79. Onj^.] 

*^* A few Letters now present themselves, illustrative of (he feelings of 
some of Queen Elisabeth's subjects when they heard that her Majesty had 
vouchsafed to honor them with a Visit during her Progresses : from which 
it will be readily gathered how inconvenient to many these Progresses 
must have been. The chronological order which has hitherto been strictly 
observed in these Volumes, is a little trespassed upon here, that the va- 
rious Letters on the same subject may be brought together.' 

Lord Keeper Bacon, it will be seen, rejoiced much at the report that 
her Majesty intended him so great an honor; but owned himself quite a 
novice in receiving Royalty. 

The Earl of Bedford thought two nights and a day quite sufficient for 
the Visitation at Wobum ; and hinted to Lord Burghley that he had made 
preparation for no longer time. 

• Harl. MS. 2G0. foL 250. 



ORIGINAL L£TT£A». * 265 

ArdibUhop Parker wm one of the few who seemed thoroughly pleased 
at one of these intended Visits. A thought struck him to make it sub- 
servient to the promotion of the Protestant Religion. His Letter will b« 
read with peculiar interest. 

Lord Leicester writing to the Earl of Sussex in 1577 saySy '^ We aH do 
what we can to persuade^ her Majesty *' from any Progress at all.** 

It is quite evident that the Queen was fickle : and frequently gave but 
short notice of what part of the Country she chose to visit. 

Lord Buckhurst, who expected to receive her Majesty at Lewes in 15779 
- was so forestalled, in lespect of provisions, by other noblemen, in Sussex 
and the adjoining counties, that he was obliged to send for a supply from 
Flanders. 

When Mr Hickes, Lord Burghley*s Secretary, was married, the Queen 
hinted that she would honor him. Hickes wrote to a friend at Court to 
ask the Lord Chamberlain what preparation he should make, evidently 
fearing the expense. The Lord Chamberlain*s advice was, to go out of 
the house and leave h to the Queen. He simply wished that M" Hickes 
^ should present her Majesty with some trifling present But the Letters 
will speak for themselves. 

It is not generally known, that much as these Visits sometimes put the 
Queen's subjects to expense, the cost of them to the public Treasury was 
also a matter of deep concern. Lord Burghley's calculations upon this 
subject^ fairly amounting to a remonstrance, are still extant. 

Am<mg the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the Museum, Num. 16. art. 52. 
is ^' An Estimate of increase of Chardgies in the time of Progresse which 
*' should not be if her Majestic remeynid at her Standing Howses within 
*' XX. myles of London ; collected out of the Cbedito&s of the last Pro- 
'« gresse Anno xvto. Begins Elizabeth.*' A. D. lj^73. It is altered and 
corrected in Lord Burghley's hand. The increase of charges caused by 
the Progress appears to have amounted in the whole to £1034. Ot. 6d. 

Lord BurgUey, it is probable, would have been personally glad if the 
Progresses could have been altogether dispensed with.^ The Queen's visits 
to him were extremely frequent. His Lordship's treatment of the Queen's 
suite when she went to TheobAd's, seems not to have been generally 
acceptable to the Visitors. In more than one ^Letter we find the writers 
vexed When they learned they were to go there. 



Aftee my hartie comendadons, understonding by. 
comen speche that the Queues Ma^*^ meanes to come 
to my Howse, and knowyng no certentie of the t3rme 



266 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

of her comyng nor of her aboade, I have thowght good 
to praye you that this bearer my servaunt might un- 
derstond what you knowe therin ; and yf it be trewe, 
then that I might understond your advise what you 
thinke to be the best waye for me to deale in this mat- 
ter : ffor, in very deede, no man is more rawein suche 
a matter then my selfe. And thus wisshing toyo' L. 
as to my self, I leave any further to trowble you at 
this tyme. From my Howse at Gorhamburie the 
xij* of Julie 1672. 

Yo' L. assured 

N. BACON. 

I have wreten thys bycause I wold gladly take that 
coiurs that myght best pleas her Ma?® which I knowe 
hot how better to understond then by yo' help. 

To my very good L. 
the L. of Buighley. 



LETTER CCIII. 

The Earl ofBed/brd to Lord Treasurer BurgM^. 

[ms. laksd. 14. art 80. Orig,^ 



Afteb. my hartie comendacions to yo*^ good Lord- 
shippe, here enclosed I sende you a Lettre of M^ As- 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 267 

dietones which shuld have bene deljrvered some dajes 
isythens. • 

I am now going to prepare for her Ma**®* coming to 
Wobome, which shalbe done in the best and most har- 
dest maner that I can. I trust yo^ L. will have in re- 
membraunce to provide and helpe that her Ma^ tari- 
eng be not above two nights and a daye ; for, for so 
long tyme do I prepare. I pray god the Rowmes and 
Lodgings there may be to her Ma^ contentacion for 
the tjrme. If I could make them better upon suche a 
sodeyn, then wold I, be assured. They should be 
better then they be. So w* my hartie thanks to yo* 
good L. remayning alwayes as I have just cause yo", 
do so committ you to Gods keping. From Russell 
House this xvj* of July 1672. 

Yo*^ L. right assured 

F. BEDFORD. 
To my verie good Lord the / 

Lord Buighley^ Highe 
Treasurer of JElngland. 



LETTER CCIV. 

Archbishop Parker to Lord Treasurer BurgUey. 

[m8. laksd. 17* art 44. Orig,'\ 

Gladlie woulde I doe all the service I coulde 
to the Queues Ma^® and to all her Nobelles, with the 



ZGS ORIGINAL LETTKK9. 

rest of her most honorable householde. I have no 
other counsel! to followe, but to searche out what ser- 
vice my Predecessors have bin wont to doe. My ofte 
distemperance and infirmitie of bodye, maketh me not 
to doe so muche as I woidde. If her Ma^® would 
please to remayne in myne house, her Highnes shoulde 
have convenient roume : and I coulde place for a Pro- 
gresse-tyrae yo' L. my L. Chamberlaine, my L. of 
Leicester, and M'. Hatton, if he come home : thinking 
that yo" LL. will fumishe the places wifli yo' owne 
stuffe. They saye myne house is of an evill ayer, 
hanging upon the churche, and having no prospect to 
loke on the people : but yet I trusty the convenience 
of the building would serve. If her Highnes be 
mynded to kepe in her owne Pallace -at S^. Austens, 
then might yo' LL. be otherwise placed in the Houses 
of the Deane and certaine Prebendaries. M^ Lawse, 
prebendarie, would faine have yo'^ L. in his Convenient 
house, trusting the rather to doe yo' L. now service, 
as he did once in teaching a Grammer schole in Stan- 
ford by your appoyntment ; M' Bungey also would 
be glad to have your L. in his lod^g, where the 
French Cardinall laye; and his house is fayer and 
sufficient. M'. Peerson would as gladlie have yo*" L. 
in his fine house, most fitt for yo' L. if you thinke* so 

good. 

The Custome hathe bin when Princes have come 
to Caunterbury, the Bishopp, the Deane, and the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S69 

Chapter, to waite at the West end of theu* Churche, 
and so to attend on them : and there to heare an Ora- 
tion. After that her Highnes may goe under a ca- 
napie, till she commeth to the middest of the churche, 
where certaine prayers shalbe sayde : and after that to 
wayte on her Highnes through the Quier, up to the 
Traverse next to the Communyon table, to heare the 
Evensonge, and so afterwardes to depart to her owne 
lodging. Or els upon Sonday following, if it be her 
pleasure, to come from her house of S^. Austens by the 
newe Bridge, and so to entef the West end of the 
Churche, or in her Coche by the streate. It would 
much rejoyce and stablishe the people here, in this 
Religion, to see her Highnes that Sondaye (being the 
first Sonday of the moneth, when others also custom- 
ablie may receive) as^ a godlie devoute Prince, in her 
chiefe and metropoliticall Churche, openly to receive 
the Communyon : which by her favor I would minis- 
ter unto her. Plwrima sunt magmfica et utiUa^ sed 
hoc unum eat necessarium. I presume not to prescribe 
this to her Highnes, but, as her trustie chapleyn, 
shewe my judgement. And after that Communyon, 
yt might please her MaH® to heare the Deane preache, 
sitting either in her Traverse, or else to suffer him to 
goe to the common Chapter, being the place of Ser- 
mons, where a greater multitude should heare. And 
yet her Highnes might goe to a verie fitt place, with 
some of her lordes and ladyes, to be there in a con- 



S70 OBI6INAL LETTERS. 

venient closett above the heades of the pec^le to heare 
the sermon. 

And after that, I would desier to see her Highnes at 
her and myne house for the dynner foUowing. And 
if her Etighnes will give me leave, I would kepe my 
bigger hall that daye for the Nobelles, and the rest (^ 
her trayne. And if it please her Ma^ she maye come 
in throughe my gallerie, and see the disposicion of the 
Hall, in dynner tjrme, at a windowe opening thereinta 

I pray yo" L. be not offended thoughe I write imto 
my L. of Sussex as L. Chamberlayne in some of thess 
matters as may oonceme his office. 

I am in preparing far three or fower of my good 
Lordes some geldinges, and if I knewe whether woulde 
like you beste, either one for yo' owHe saddle or a fine 
little white gelding for yo*^ fote clothe, oi* one for one 
of yo' gentlemen or yomen, I would so appointe you. 
And thus trusEting to have yo^ counsell, as M'. Deane 
Cometh purposelie for the same, I commyt yo^ honor 
to Grods tuy don a^ my self. From my house at Beaked- 
borne nighe to Caunterburie, this xvij* oif Auguste, 
1678. 

Yo^ L. assured in Ohriste. 

MATTHJ7E CANTITAB. 

To the right honorable his 
yerie good L. the L. Burleigh^ 
Highe Treasouror of England. 



ORIGINAL LETTEKS. S71 

LETTER CCV. 

Thomas SackvUle Lord BucJchur&t, to the Earl of 
Sti89€x^ on the eospected Visit of the Queen to Lewes. 

[mS. cotton. TITUS B. II. foL 363. Ofig.l 



My veey good loed 

■ 

I besech your Lordship to pardon me yf thus 
I shall becom troblesome unto you to know some cer- 
tenty of the Progres, yf it may possibly be. The time 
of providon is so short, and the desire I have to do all 
thinges in such sort as appertaineth so great, as I can 
not but thus importune your Lordship to procure her 
H. to grow to some resolucion both of the time when 
her Ma. wilbe at Lewis, and how long her H. will tary 
thearo. For having alredy 3ent in to Kent, Surrey, 
and Sussex for provision, I assure your Lordship I 
find alredy all places possest by my lord of Arundell, 
my lord Mountague, and others. So, as of fors, I am 
to send in to Flaunders, which I wold spedely do yf 
the time of her Ma. coming and tarians with me were 
certain. I besech your Lordship therefore, yf it may 
be, let me know by your Lo. favorable means some- 
what wherunto to trust, for if her H. shall not pre- 
sently determin I se not how possibly we may or can 
perform that towardes her Ma. which is du and con- . 
venient. 



S72 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

I trust your Lordship will mesure my case by your 
own ; that wold be loth her H. shold com unto you 
before you were redy to receve her H. to hazard ther- 
by your dishonor and her Ma. dislike. 

I can but besech of Grod that the hous do not 
mislike her ; that is my cheif care : the rest shalbe 
performed with that good hart as I am sure yt wilbe 
accepted. But yf her H. had taried but on yere 
longer, we had ben to to happy ; but Gods will and 
hers be doon. 4 Julii 15T7. 

Your Lo. humble to comaimd 

T. BUCKEHURST. 

To die Right honorable 
and my very good Lord^ 
The Lord Cliamberlain 
be thes geven. 



LETTER CCVI. 



The Earl of Leicester to the Earl qfSussexj upon an 
Invitation given by tfie latter to Queen Elizabeth in 
1577. 

[ms. laksd. 25. art. 28.] 



My good Lord, I have shewed your Letter to her 
Majesty, who did take your great care to have her 
welcome to your house in most kind and gracious part, 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 273 

thanking your Lordship many times. Albeit she saith 
very earnestly, that s^e wil by no means come this 
time to Newhal ; saying, it were no reason, and less 
good manners, having so short warning this year to 
trouble you ; and was very loth to have come into these 
parts at al, but to fly the further from these infected 
places ; and charged me so to let your Lordship know, 
that by no means she would have you prepare for her 
thistime. Nevertheles, my Lord, for mine own opinion, 
I believe she wil hunt, and visit your house, coming 
so neer. Herein you may use the matter accordingly, 
since she would have you not to look for her. 

And now, my Lord, we all do what we can, to per- 
suade from any progress at all, onely to remain at 
Windsor and therabouts. But it much misliketh her 
not to go some wher to have change of air. So what 
will fal out yet I know not, but must like to go for- 
ward, since she fancieth it so greatly her self. The 
infection in Oxford and the Country falleth out to be 
onely at the Assizes gotten. For none others either 
of the Town or Country are touched, but those pre- 
sent there at the Gaol delivery. And of al that fel sick 
few recovered. Nor any that keepeth them or cometh 
to them take any infection at all. And so God keep 
your Lordship as I wish myself. In hast this xxx. July 

Y*: Lordships assured 

E. LEYCESTER. 
VOL. II. T 



^4 OKIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CCVII. 

Henry Maynard to Mk (afterwards Sir) Michael 
HicJceSf upon the QueerCs Progress, a. d. 1597. 

[m8. laksd. 85. art. 23. Ort^.] 



m!^ MICHABLL, 

I PERCEIVE that abowt the middes of the next weke 
you will be readie to com hether, and by that thne 
the Queen meaneth to be with you, if the' iestes hold, 
w<* after manie alteracions is so sett downe this daie 
to be with you on Wednesdaie night, to staie theare 
all Thorsedaie, on Friday to dine at M'. Kniuetts, 
and so to Haveringe to bedd. If anie alteracion shall 
happen as I hope theare will (for wee are greatlie 
aferd of Theobalds) you shall heare theareof. 

From the Court 
Aug. 10*. 1M7. 



LETTER CCVIII. 

Henry Maynard to M''- Hickes upon the same. 

[ms. laksd. 85. art. 24. Orig.] 



m!^ MICHASLL ' 

I AM sure you herken howe our Progresse prcv 
ceadeth, for that you are like to be the Queens first 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 275 

nost, and thearefore it shall not neade to write theare- 
of, otherwise I could assure you that at the time of 
the writinge heareof, theare is no manner of alteraeioti. 
It weare thearefore in mine opinion not amisse that 
you came hither to advise with your frendes better of 
the matter then you can doe theare. Wee greatlie feare 
that from Haveringe the Queen will to Theobaldes, 
but as yett it is not sett downe. I coulde be glad to 
be gon heare, but this Progresse much trowbleth mee, 

for that we know© not what corse the Queen will take. 

From the Court 
Aug. 13*. 1597. 



LETTER CCIX. 

Henry Maynard to Mr. Hickes with the Lord Chamber- 

lavris advice, 

[MS. LAKSD. IBID. art. 25. OrigJ] 



M^. HICKES 



Theare is noe alteracion as yet of the Progresse, 
nor noe conceipt that it will change. This morning 
I waB with niy Lord Chamberlaine abowt sum other 
busines from my Lord, whoe as it semeth had ejc- 
pected your comming to him. I told him you had 
been heare yesterdaie, and that MT Bowier appointed 
to be with yowe this morning whoe would report to 

T 2 



OT6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

his Lp. at his retome the state of yo' howse and lodg- 
ings. Sum speeche he had with me towehinge yo' 
Howse : saienge that he understood that it was scant 
of lodgings and offices ; whereuppon I tooke occasion 
to tell his L? that it was trewe, and that I conceived it 
did trowble you that you had noe convenient place 
to entertaine sum of hir Ma^" necessary servants. 
His awnsweare was that you weare unwise to be at 
anie such charge : but onelie to leave the howse to the 
Queue : and wished that theare might be presented to 
hir Ma^^® from your wief sum fine wastcoate^ or fine 
ruffe, or like thinge, w^** he said would be acceptablie 
taken as if it weare of great price. He said that two 
daies since, uppon speeche of yo*^ Howse, and of yo*^ 
mariage, the Q. fell into an exceadinge commendacion 
of M^ Paruis, as that she nevir had such a merchant 
in hir Kingedome wlieareuppon his L? saith that him- 
self and others standinge by gave the like recommen- 
dacion to hir of yo' wief. It semeth the time will be 
two nightes as was first appointed : and thowgh noe 
speeche be theareof, he vearelie thinketh that she will 
com to Theobaldes, thowgh she showld remaine theare 
but three or fower daies. It weare pitie at this time to 
trowble you with anie other matter. 

"^ 'W ^F ^P ^F T^ 

And so untill a further occasion I will leave otherwise 
to trowble yo" than with my hartiest commendacions 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S77 

to M^f Hicks. From the Court this xv-^\ of August 

1597. 

Yo^ most assuredlye 

To my assured good frend H. maynard. 

and fellowe^ M'. Michaell 
Hickes £sq^. 



In the Extracts from Smith's Lives of the Berkeley family, it is said 
that Queen Elizabeth, in her Progress, in the fifteenth year of her reign, 
" came to Berkeley Castle what time" Henry Lord Berkeley the then 
possessor ^' had a stately game of red deer in the park adjoining, called 
The Worthy, whereof Henry Ligon was keeper : during which time of 
her being there, such slaughter was made as twenty-seven sta^s were slain 
in the toils in one day, and many others, on that and the next, stolen 
and havocked : whereof, when this Lord, being then at Callowdon% was 
advertised, having much set his delight in this game, he suddenly and 
passionately disparked that ground ; but in a few months after, he had a 
secret friendly advertisement from the Court, ' that the Queen was informed 
' how die same was so disparked by him, on repining at her coming to his 
^ house, (for indeed it was not in her jests,) and at the good sport she had 
' had in the park ;* advising this Lord to cary a wary watch over his words 
and actions, least thus that Earl (meaning Leicester) that had, contrary 
to her set justice, drawn her to his castle, and purposely had caused that 
slaughter of his deere, might have a further plot against his head and that 
castle, whereto he had taken no small liking, and affirmed to have good 
title thereto, and was not far from his manor of Wotton, lately recovered 
against him." ^ 



LETTER CCX. 

Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Shrewsbury, upon the 
Appointment of Nave to be Secretary to the Queen of 
Scots. 

[m8. lansd. 1236. foL 47. Orig,] 

*^* Roulet, who had previously been Secretary to the Queen of Scots, 
as we learn from a letter of the Earl of Shrewsbury to S'. Francis Wal. 
singham, died August 30^. 1574. 

» Another of his Seats. i> Fosbrooke's Berkeley Manuscripts, pp. 203, 204. 



^8 ORICIKAL LETTERS. 

ELIZABETH B. ' By the Queen. 

Right trusty and right welbelovid Cosin and Coun- 
sellor we greete yow well. Whereas the Queene of 
Scotts hath ben destitute of a Frenche Secretary sens 
the deathe of RoUet, and hath by her awne lettres, 
and by meanes out of France, desyred us ta sufifer 
an other to come and supplye that place about her; 
which we have hitherto forborne to graunt, for dy- 
vers good causes, and emong other, for the evell of- 
fices whiche her other Secretary did there, wherof 
yow ar not ignorant. Now forasmuche as the bearer 
hereof, called de Naou, a Frencheman, hath ben 
chosen and recommended to us by our brother the 
Frenche King, with request that he may gooe to ha: 
and serve her as her Secretary, and hath promised 
that he shall carye himself in that even maner that 
becommeth an honest mynister, nor shall practise any 
hurtfiill or ofiensyve thing, which he himself hath 
also vowed and promisid heere, with offer that if he 
shall at any tyme be fownd fawtye, he submittith him 
self to any punishment : Upon these respects, and at 
her earnest request, we ar pleased that the said de 
Naou shall resort thither and abyde with her as her 
Secretary. And so our pleasour is yow shall receave 
him into her company, and suffer him to serve her in 
that place ; admonishing him now, at his entrey, and 
also herafter, to have consideracion of the caution 
whiche our said brother the Frenche King hath gyven 



OKICINAL LKTTEftS. 279 

US for him ; and also of his awne promes, as he will 
avoyd the danger wherin he hath condempnid him- 
self, if he shalbe herin fownd faultye. Geven vnder 
our Signet at our Mannor of Saint James the xxix^^ 
of Marche, 1575. in the xyj* yere of our Reign- 
To our right trusty and right welbeloved 

Cosin and Counsellor^ the Erie of 

Shreusbury^ Erie- Marshall of England. 



LETTER CCXI. 



Nicholas WfUte to Lord BurgMegfy givmg am, accou/nt ^ 
the last sickness and death of Walter Earl (^ Essex. 

[ms. LAsrsD. 21. avt. 33. Orig.\ 

♦/^ Walter Devereux Earl of Essex, to whose death thh Letter relates, 
commanded the army which was sent against the Earls of Northumber- 
land and Westmoreland in 1569. In 1572, he went to Ireland to queU 
the hismrection of O'Neale, and was placed in the €K>?emment of Ulster. 
Ue was subsequently recalled, by court intrigues, when in the midst of 
successes. Dugdale, in his Baronage, says that ^^ by the contrivance 
of the Eail of Leicester he was agun sent into Ireland, with the any titk 
of Earl-Marshal of that realm ; where, with great grief of mind, he died 
of a flux, 22<> Sept. 1576. 18 Eliz. but not without suspicion of poison; 
and was buried at Caermarth^ in South Wales. Which suspicion did 
the more augment, by reason that the Earl of Leicester then forsook the 
Lady Douglas Sheffield (his wife as was helieved hy many) by whom he 
had a son ; and more openly shewed his love to the Lady Iiettice the 
widow of the deceased Earl ; whom though (as 'twas said) he had privately 
married, her father Sir Francis Ejiolles, who well took notice of Leicester's 
wandnng affections, would not give credit to it, until in the presence of 
some witnesses besides himself, and a public notary, he had regularly 
taken her to wife" ■. 

■ Dugd. Baron, torn. ii. p. 178* 



280 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

The suspicion of poison having been administered to the Earl of Essex 
by Leicester's means, however, seems to be done away by this Letter. 

Murdin, in his State Papers, has printed two Letters of the Earl of 
Essex, one written to Queen Elizabeth, the other to Lord Burghley, 
inmiediately before his death, Sept ^th. an4 218*. 1575^ chiefly in 
anxiety for the education and welfare of his son, who was afterwards the 
Queen's great favourite. 



MY D£R£ GOOD LOUD. 

I RECEAVED by Hiy nephewe your Lordships lo- 
ving lettres, all written with your awne hande, which 
were more comfortable to me then I can expresse. I 
finde in themme a rule to direct me, and a piller 
wheron to stay me, besyds JT confirmation of your ac- 
customed favour towards me, whom your selfe hathe 
lifted upp from stumbling downe, wherof I and my 
posteritie shall alwaies cary a loying memory. I will 
not presume to prohibite your honor to write any 
thing to the Gt)vemor which youe shaD thinke good 
for me ; but I suppose he hathe made choise of suche 
as he thinks fittest to be acquajmted with his platt: 
and therefore using me but as tanquam vocattis, am td 
require no more, but his indifferenoy, and favorable 
acceptation of my best advise in the service of my 
Prince and Countrey. 

Oh my good Lord, here I must emong others ad- 
vertyse your Lordship of the dolefuU departure of 
Th'Erle of Essex, who ended this life to begyn a bet- 
ter the xxij^^ of September in the Castell of Dublin 
gnd felt his sycknes first at Talaghe th'archebisshope 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 281 

of Dublins house^ in his jorney towards Balhuglas to 
mete Th'^Erle of Ormounde accompanyed with the 
Chauncelor, the last of August. 

I was moche abowte him in the later ende of his 
sycknes, and behelt suche true tokynes of Nobilitie 
conjoyned with a most godly and vertuos mynde to 
the yelding upp of his breathe, as is rare to be sene. 

Two daies before he died he had speche with me of 
your Lordsihip^ and sayd he thoght he was borne to 
do you and your's good. But nowe sayd he I must 
comytt the oversight of my son and all to him. He 
Ukewise spoke lovingly of my Lord of Sussex, with 
many other things which for prolixitie and otherwise 
I omytt to write. He doubted that he had bene poy- 
soned by reason of the violent evacuation which he 
had, and of that suspicion acquitted this Lande, say- 
ing no not Tirrelaghe Lunnaghe^ him selfe wolde 
do no villany to his person. But upon the openyng 
of him, which I coulde not abyde, the Chauncelor tolde 
me that all his inwarde parts were sounde saving that 
his hart was somewhate consumed, and the blader of 
his gall empty. Suche as toke upon theme to be his 
{^sicians, as Chaloner, Knell a preacher, and th^ 
Deputies phisician called Doctor Trever, applied him 
with many glisters, and therby filled his body full of 
winde which was percejrved: so as ether ther igno- 
rance, or some violent-cause beyonde ther skill ended 

• The chief, at that time, of the rebel bands in Ulster. 



282 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

his life. His fleashe and coniplexion did not decay^ 
his inenK)ry and speche was so perfitt that^ at the 
Jast yelding upp of his breathe, he cryed ' Cowradge, 
Cowradge. I am a soyldor that must fight under the 
banor of my Savior Christe.^ And as he prayed al- 
waies to be dissolved, so was he lothe to dye in his 
bed ; which made me to remember your Lordship^s 
tale of your Father. 

Emong others he had care of my seconde son, which 
is all this while brought upp with the young Erie his 
son, without any chardge to me, bicause bis mother 
was a Lenox. And required M"^ Waterhouse to 
move your honor that he might still attende on his 
son and be broght upp with him, wherin I refer his 
case to your accustomed goodnes. ' 

His Lordship comytted to my k^ing the patents 
of his creation and countreyes here : atid made me one 
of his feoflTees of Trust. I hope with the Deputie's 
favour to tume those lands to a reasonable yere como- 
ditie to his son. 

I do sende your Lordship here inclosed the names 
of suche of Th'^Erles servaunts as were abowte him in 
the tyme of his sycknes, atid served him moste pain- 
fully and diligently ; for with respect I thinke them 
worthy the favor of ill men. 

It is doubted whate ende the deputie will make of 
this great sturrin Goriaght. 



ORIGINAL LETTEKS.. 283 

From S'. Kathrins besyds Dublin, this last of Sep- 
tember 1576. 

Yo' honors moste bounden during life 

N. WHITE. 

'* To the right honnorable my 
singuler good L. my L. Burgh- 
ley Lorde Treagurer of En- 
glande." 



LETTER CCXII. 



William Fleetwood Recorder of London, to Lord 
Burgfilej/y upon the apprehending of a number of 
rogues a/nd masterless men in the neighbourhood of 
London. 

[MS. LAsrsD. 34. art 3. OHg,] 

^^* William Fleetwood, the natural son of Richard Fleetwood, descend- 
ed from ihe Fleetwoods of Penwortham in Lancashire, was a lawyer of 
great eminence in his time ; learned ; and active as a magistrate. The 
Earl of Leicester appears to have been his patron. 

He became Recorder of London in 1569, and continued in that office 
till 1591. He was called to the degree of Serjeant in 1580 ; and in 1592, 
was made one of the Queen's Serjeants. 

M^ile Recorder of London, Seij^ Fleetwood was in the habit of writing 
weekly Letters to Lord Bur^hley respecting the transactions of the Police ; v 
acquainting him with the crimes which were committed and pimished 
daUy, as well as with the chief occurrences in London. One of these Re- 
ports is here laid before the reader, and at least shows the activity of the 
Police upon some occasions. 

Serjeant Fleetwood died at his house in ^ Noble Street Aldengate, Fe- 
bruary the 28th 1594. 



My singuler good Lord, uppon Thursday at even, 
her Majestic in her Cooche, near Islyngton, taking of 



C.'Ht ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

the aicr, her Highnes was environed with a nosmber 
of Rooges. One M' Stone a footeman cam in all hast 
to my Lord Maior, and after to me, and told us of 
the same. I dyd the same night send warrants owt 
into the seyd quarters and in to Westminster and the 
Duchie : and in the momyng I went a brood my selff, 
and I tooke that daye Ixxiiij. roogs, whereof some were 
blynd and yet great usurers, and very riche : and the 
same daye towards night I sent for M"^. Harrys and 
M^. Smithe and the governors of Bridwell, and tooke 
all the names of the roogs ; and sent theym frome the 
Sessions Hall unto Bridwell where they remayned 
that night. Upon Twelff daye in the forenoone, the 
Master of the Rolls, my selff, and others receyved a 
charge before my Lords of the Counsell as towching 
roogs and masteries men, and to have a pryvie 
searche. The same daye at after dyner (for I djmed 
at the Rolls) I mett the governors of Bridwell, and so 
that after nowne we examined all the seyd roogs and 
gave theym substanciall payment. And the strongest 
we bestowed in the mylne and the lighters. The rest 
wee desmyssed with a promise of a dooble paye if we 
mett with theym agajme. Upon Sounday being cras- 
tino of the Twelfth daye, I dyned with M*^ Deane of 
Westminster, where I conferred with hym towching 
Westminster and the Duchie, and then I -tooke order for 
Southwarke, Lambeth, and Newyngton, from whence 
I receyved a shooU of xl. rooggs, men and women, and 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 285 

above. I bestowed theym in Bridwell. I dyd the same 
after nowne peruse Pooles*, where I tooke abowt xx^^ 
cloked roogs that there use to kepe standing. I placed 
theym also in Bridwell. The next momyng, being 
Mounday, the M' of the RooHs and the rest tooke 
order with th^ Constables for a privie searche ageynst 
Thursdaye at night, and to have the offendors browght 
to the Sessions Hall upon Frydaye in the momyng 
where wee the Justices shold mete. And agaynst the 
same tyme my Lo. Maior and I dyd the lyke in 
London and Sowthworke. The same aftemowne the 
Masters of Bridwell and I mett, and, after every man 
being examined, eche one receyved his payment ac- 
cording to his deserts ; at whiche tyme the strongest 
were put to worke and the other dismissed into theire 
Countries. The same daye the M'» of the Savoye was 
with us and sayd he was sworne to lodge " claudi- 
cantos y egrotcmtes^ et peregrinantes ;^ and the next 
momyng I sent the Constables of the Duchie to the 
Hospitall and they browght unto me at Bridewell yj. 
tall fellowes that were draymen unto bruers and were 
neither " claudiccmtes^ egrotantes^ nor peregrinantesr 
The Constables if they might have had theyre owen 
wills wold have browght as many moo. The Master 
dyd wryte a very curtese letter unto us to produce 
theym : and although he wrott charitably unto us, yet 
were they all sowndly payed, and sent home to thare 

■ St. Pauls. 



S86 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

masters. All Tewsday, Weddensdaye, and Thurs- 
daye there cam in nosmbers of roogs ; they were re- 
warded all according to theire deserts. Upon Frydaye 
momyng, at the Justice Hall, there were browght in 
above a C. lewed people taken in the privie searche. 
The M*? of Bridwell recey ved theym, and immediatly 
gave theym punishment. This Satterday, after Causes 
of Consciens herd by my Lord Maior and me, I dined, 
and went to Polls and in other places as well within the 
libertes as els where, and I founde not one»rooge stir- 
ryng. Emongest all these thjmgs I dyd note, that we 
had not of London, Westm. nor Sowthwarke, nor yet 
Midd. nor Surr. above twelve, and those we have taken 
order for. The resedew for the most were of Wales, 
Salop, Cestr. Somerset, Barks, Oxforde^ and Essex ; 
and that fewe or none of thaym had ben abowt London 
above iij. or iiij. mownthes. I dyd note also that we 
m^t not agayne w*** any in all our seardies that had 
recey ved punishment. The chieff nurserie of all these 
evell people is the Savoy e, and the brick kilnes nere 
Islyngton. As for the brick kylnes, we will take suche 
order that they shall be reformed. And I trust by 
yo' good Lordship's help the Savoye shall be amended ; 
for suerlie, as by expericlns I fynd it, the same place, 
as it is used, is not converted to a good use or purpose. 
And this shall suffice for Roogs. 

Upon Weddensdaye last a Frenche mercbaunt, in 
a bagge sealed, delivered to a cariers wiif of Norwich 



s 
ORIGINAL L£TT£R£k. 287 

xP? to be caried to Norwich. She secretlie conveyed 
the money to a howse a good way off frome the Inne, 
and within half a quarter of an houre the Frenche 
merchaunt cam agayne to se his money packed up. 
But the woman denyed that ever she received any one 
penny with such horrible protestacions as I never herd 
of before. M^ Secretarie Walsingham wrote me his 
Letters for the ayde of the Frenche man, and after 
great searche made, the money was founde and re- 
stored. She not knowing o^ the same, I examined her 
in my studie privatlie, but by no meanes she wold not 
confesse the same, but dyd bequeth her selff to the 
Devell, both bodie and sowle, if she had the money or 
ever sawe it. And this was her craft that she then had 
not the money,, and in dead she sayd the trowth, for it 
was eyther at her frynds where she left it, or els de- 
lyvered. And then I perceyving her fewke, I asked 
her whether the Frenche merchant dyd not bring her a 
bagge sealed full of metall that was weightie, were it 
either platts, coyne, cownters, or suche lyke: then, 
quoth she, I will aunswer no further. And then I used 
my Lo. Maiors advise, and bestowed her in Bridwell, 
where the Masters and I sawe her punished ; and, being 
well whipped, she sayd that the Devell stood at her 
elbowe in my studie, and willed her to denye it. But 
so soon as she was upon the Ctosse to be punished he 
gave her over. And thus my singuler good Lo. I end 
this tragicall part of this wicked woman. 



288 ORIGINAL LETTEES. 

This momyng the Deputie of Holbome and two of 
the Wardmot Enquest browght me this examination. 
I send for the partie. He was browght before my 
Lord Maior and me. And we have commanded hym 
to warde expecting yo'^ good Lo. advise as towchinge 
his offens. 

Thus most humbly I send unto yo*^ good Lo this 
last weeks Diarye, cfeasing at this tyme to troble yo"^ 
honor any further. At Bacon howse* this 14 of Ja. 
1681. 

Your good Lo. most bounden 

W. FLETEWOODE, 

To the right honorable 
and my singuler good L. 

My Lo. High Treason 
of £dgland. 



. LETTER CCXIII. 

Kmg James the Siocth of Scotland to Queen Mary his 

mother^ expressive of duty. 

[ms. cotton, calio. c. vn. fol. 12. Orig, enti&elt ik the king's hand.] 



Madame j'ay receu la Lettre quil vous k pleu m'- 
escrire laquelle il a pleu a la Ro3nie d'Angleterre ma 
bonne seur permectre de m'estre envoyee et voy par 
icelle q'*uelle a faict dificultd de vous acorder de m'- 
envoyer ung de voz gens sur le refuz qui fut faict der- 

■ In Foster Lane. 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^& 

nierement k lung des siens, et suivant le comandement 
que me faictes. Je lui escrips et mande les occasions 
pourquoy k ceste heure la je ne peu donner permis- 
sion que celuy la vint vers moy, non qu'alors mon in- 
tention fut pour le refuser du tout, mais seulement le 
remectre jusques apres que le Parlement, que je tenois, 
alors, fiit parachev6 et serois infiniment marry quelle 
eut opinion que je Teusse faict pour la desdaigner veu 
que n^ay jaimais eu autre vollont^ que de luy demeu- 
rer bon parent et voisin, ainsi que je suis delib^r6 
d^estre selon les comandemens, qu^il vous plaist de 
m^en faire, les quelz et tous autres, dont il vous plaira 
dem^honorer, vous me trouvverr^s tousjoursprest a les 
mectre exi execution, et de vous honorer et respecter 
selon que Dieu me le commande, et que le devoir natu- 
re! m^y oblige, et me sera une tres grande consolation, 
s^il vous plaist de me rendre si heureulx que de m^en- 
voier viater par Pun des vostres comme me le mand^ 
afin je puisse estre asseure de vostre bonne prosperity 
et sant^, laquelle apres vous avoir tres humblement 
baise les mains je prie Dieu Madame qu'il vous donne 
tres bonne avecqties heureuse et longue vie. De 
Sterling ce xT** jour de Juin (1682.) 

Vostre tres humble et obedient 

filz k jaimais 
A la Royne ma mere. Jacques r, 

• I. e. IT. 
VOL. II. U 



290 OUIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CCXIV. 

Jlf*" Recorder Fleetwood to Lord Burghleyy with va- 
rious London News. 

[ms. laksd. kum. 38. art 12. Orig.} 



BIGHT HONORABLE 

SiTHENs your Lo. last being here in London 
there have ben twoo great Feasts^ the one at the Gro- 
sers-haU, the other at the Haberdashers-hall. At the 
Haberdashers feast was my Lord Maior, and divers of 
his brethem, with myselff, where my Lo. Maior after 
the second course come inne dyd take the great stand- 
ing Cupp of the gift of Sir William Garrett, being full 
of Ypocraze, (and silence being commaunded throwgh 
all the Tables) all men being bare-headed, my Lo, be- 
fore all men dyd use these words with a convenyent 
lowd voyce " M' Recorder of London and yow my 
good bretheme the Aldermen, beare witnes that I do 
drynke unto M^. Alderman Massam as Shereff of Lon- 
don and Midd. frome Mighelmas next cpmming, for 
one hoU yere ; and I do beseche God to graimt hym as 
quiett and peaceable a yere with as good and gratious 
favor of her Maiestie as I my selff and my brethem 
the Shereffs now being have hytherto had, and ajs I 
trust shall have.'* This spoken, all men desired the 
same. The Sword-bearer in hast went to the Grosers 



OniGIXAL LETTERS. @91 

ffeast, where M^ Aid? Massam was at dyner; and 
there dyd openlie declare the words that my Lo.' 
Maior had used : whereunto (silens made and all being 
hushe) the Alderman aunswered verie modestiie in this 
sort, " First I thanke God who through his great 
goodness haith called me frome a verie poore and 
meane degree unto this worshipfiill estate. Secondlie I 
thanke her Majestie for her gratious goodnes in allow- 
ing unto us these great and ample fraunchises. Third- 
lie I thank my Lo. Maior for having so honorable an 
opinion of this My Companie of Grocers as to make 
choise of me being a poore member of the same.'*' 
And this said, bothe he and all the Companie pledged 
My Lord and gave h3an thanks. 

M. Nowell of the Court haith lately been here in 
London. He caused his man to geve a blowe unto a 
carrman. His man haithe stricken the carrman with 
the pumell of his sword'and therwith haith broken his 
skelle and killed hjrm. M'. Nowell and his man are 
lyke to be indicted ; whereof I am sure to be muche 
trobled, what with lettres and his* frynds, and what 
by other meanes as in the verie like case heretofore I 
have b}ni even with the same man. Here are sunderie 
yonge gentilmen that use the Court that most com- 
monly terme the)nmselffs gyrUyhnen. When any of 
these have done any thinge amisse and are compleyned 
of, or arrested for debt, they then runne unto me, and 
no other excuse or aunswere can they make but saye 

u2 



S9S - ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

" / am a Jyntylnum^ and being a Jyntfflman I am rwt 
thus to be used ai a slave and a colions handes^ I know 
not what other parlee M'. Nowell can pled ; but this 
I say, the fact is fowle. God send hym good deliver- 
ans. I thinke in my conscience that he makethe no 
reckenyng of the mattar. 

Hit was my chaimse to examine a matter in the 
Court holden at Bridwell. I have ben complayned of 
to the Counsel bcM-d. I was sent for. M^ Secretary 
received my Aunswer, and told the compleynaunts 
that they had deserved to be hanged. And this is the 
Case. Abraham of Abraham a gentilman of an hun- 
dred pound land in com. Lane, put his dawght^ and 
heire unto my lady Gerrerd of the Brenne. Sir Tho- 
mas and my lady being here in London, one Dwelles, 
a fenser nere Cicell howse, and his wiff, by indirect 
meanes, being of kyn to the girle, dyd invite all my La-) 
dy^s children and gentil women unto a breakfast. They 
cam thether, and at theire oommyng the yowthes and 
servingmen were caried up to the ffens skolle. My 
Ladys dowghters and gentilwomen must nedes play 
at the cardes, will they nill they. Thegirle Abraham, 
by the wiff of the howse, was conveyghed in to a 
chamber, and ^ut the dowre after her and there left 
her. The Girl found in the Chamber iiij. or v. tall 
men. She knew theym not. And ymediatlie the girle 
fell into a great ffeare seyng them to compasse her 
about. Then began an old priest to read upon a 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 293 

booke, his words slie understood not, saving these 

words " I Henry take the Suzane to my wedded wiff '' 

&c. This done they charged the wenche never to 

discover this to any body lyving: and so sent her 

downe to her fellowes. And dyner being done the 

wenche told to her fellowes very lamentably what had 

ben donne ; and they over to S^ Tho. and . my La. 

And upon complaynt I sent for the ffensers wiff who 

wold confesse noth3nig. I went with her my self to 

Bridwell, where there was a full Court, and thether 

cam Sir Thomas with the wenche, and there we bolted 

owt the wholl matter and dyd no more. The ffensers 

wyff is retorued to the Cownter. The wenche is with 

my La. Gerrerd. She was never in Bridwell, as the 

ffenser and one PooUwhele dyd avouche to some of 

my Lords. The wenche was there to accuse the fensers 

wiff in open Court. My Lo. this being the fact, and 

the trew case thereof, I fynd the same to be ffelloQi^ 

by A*? 3. St. 1. ca. % And therefore me thinketh such^ 

companyons as this fenser and his wiff are, owght not 

to be allowed to deface suche poore men as I am, in 

suche order, before the Lords. Thus most humbly I 

take my leave of yo' good Lo. this 18 of Julie 1583. 

Yo"^ good Lo. most 

bounden 

'' To the right honorable w. FLETEWOODE. 

and my singuler good 
Lord Treasourer of 
England." 



S94 OftlGIXAL LETTEES. 



LETTER CCXV. 



Qnem ESzabeA to Emg James Ae SixA cf ScoOand^ 
Aug. 7? 158S; wfbraUBfmg Am with breaking his 
word. 

[XS. COTTOV. JUXIUS F. TI. ftL 25.] 



Amokgs joar mame studies my deare Brodier and 
C0801I9 I would Isocraies noble lesson weare not for- 
gotten, that wiDs the Emperor his suvorain to make 
his words of more a e aanpt then other men theare 
othes, as metest enseignes to diowe the truest hage of 
a Princes annes. It moreth me much to move you, 
whan I bdiold how dirersdy sondrie wicked pathes, 
and, like all evill illusions, wrapped under the cloke of 
your best safety, endai^er your state and best good. 
How maie yt be that yow can suppose an honorabele 
awiMswere maie be made me when dl your doings 
gainesaie your fcnrmer vowes. You deale not with ooe 
whose experience can take drosse for good paiments, 
ncH* one that esily will be b^uiled. No, No, I mind to 
sett to schoole your craftiest oounsiler. I am sorie to 
se you bent to wrong youre selfe in thinking to wronge 
others ; yea thos which if thay had not evoi than taken 
opertunitie to lett a ruin that was newly 4)egcMi, that 
plott would have perilled you more than a thowsand 
of such mene lives be worth, that perswade you to 
vouche such deades to deser\'e a sawles pardon. Why 



OftlGINAL LETTEBS. HQS 

doe you forgett what you write to myselfe with your 
owne hand, shewing howe dangerous a course the 
Duke was entred in, thougth yow excused him sellf 
to thinke noe harm therin, and yet thay that with your 
safetie preserved ypw from it, yow must seme to give 
them reproche of gilty f<dke. I hope you more esteme 
your honor than to give yt such a stwie, since you 
have protested so often to have taken these Lordes for 
your most affectionate subjects, and to have done all 
for your best. To conclude, I besech you passe no 
further in this cause till you receve an expres mes- 
singer, a trusty servant of mine, by whome you shall 
see plainiey yow may receive honor and contentment 
with more suretie to your rest and state, than all thea 
dissembling counselors will or can bringe yowe. As 
knoweth the Lord to whose most safe keping I doe 
committ yow, with my many commendations to your 
person. 

7 August 1S88, 



LETTER CCXVI. 

M*^. Recorder Fleetwood to Lord Treasurer Burgfdeg 
upon Sessions Proceedings of the Cityy a School Jbr 
Pickpockets in London, fyc* 

[ms. lansd. 44. art 38. Orig.] 

*^* The subject of cutpurses, rogues, and masterless men, with the 
language they assumed in imitation of the Ojrpsies, was one of no slight 
interest in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 

The writer of the Desaiption of England prefixed to the second editiflv 



296 ORiGIKAL LETTERS. 

ot HoHnnhffd^g Ctnoiikle, describes do fewer thsn twenty-^hree sorts, in 
men and women, of this ongradoos rabble. He says, '' The several 
disordefs and d^rees amongst otur idle vagabonds,'' are, ^ 1. Rufflers ; 
S. Upnghtmes; 3. Hookers, or Ang^n; 4. Roges; & Wild Roges; 
6L PriggeiB, or Pransen ; 7. PaUiards ; 8. Praters ; 9. Abrams ; 10. 
Fresh-water mariners, or Whip-jacks; 11. Dommerers; 12. Dnmken 
tinkers ; 13. Swaddera, or Pedlivs ; 14. Jaikemcn, or Patrkoes. Of 
women kind ; 1. Demanders for glimmer or fire ; 2. Bandie Baskets ; 
X Mortes ; 4. Autem Mortes; 5. Walking Mortes; 6. Doxes ; 7- Ddks ; 
& Kindiii^ Mortes ; 9. Kucfaing Cooes." 

These sevenl personages, together with the nice differences of their re- 
spective callings, are explained in a tract entitled '* Tlie Oroondworke of 
Oosmy-Catching," a thin quarto, printed at London without date, but 
l^yparently written about the year 1566. The reigns of Queen Elizabeth 
and King James ihe First, indeed, abound in pablicaticNU of a simflar 
dcMription^ coarse in their language and scenes, but singularly iUustza- 
tive of popular manners. Among these, perhaps, the works of Robert 
Omn and Thomas Dekker stand foremost. *' The Belman of London, 
bringing to light the most notorious V illanies that are now practised in the 
Kingdom *' 4^0. by Dekker, went through numerous editions. It was 
Allowed by ^^ Lan^faom and Candle-Light ; or the Bdl^ans Seoond 
Nights Walke ;" in which is a Canter*s CHLossary. From a passage in 
the first of these works we learn that some of our thieves, even at that 
time, obtained tbeir instruments '^ fiom Italy, made of Steele : some," Ihe 
author adds *•*• are made here in England by smiths that are partners and 
partakers in their villainous occupations.** See also '^ Martin Mark-all, 
beadle of Bridewell, his Defence and Answere to the Belman of London ; 
by S. R." 4<*. Lond. 1610; in which the Canting DictioDary is amended 
and enlarged. Another curious Work on this subject will be found in 
" A notable Discovery of Coosnage," 4® Lond. 1691. 

Right honorable and my verie good Lord, uppon 
Thursdaye laste, beinge the crastinn of Trinitie Terme, 
we kepte a Sessions of Inqu3rrie m London in the fore- 
none, and in the aftemone we kepte the lyke att Fyns- 
burie for Middlesex, in which two sevariill Sessionses 
all such as were to be arrayegned for felonye at the 
Gaole deliverye were indyted. Uppon Frydaie last 
we sate at the Justice hall att Newgate from vij in the 
mominge untill vij att night, where were condempn^d 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. S97 

certen horstealers, cutpurses, and such lyke, to the 
nusmber of x.^ whereof ix. were executed, and the 
tenthe stayed by a meanes from the Courte. These 
were executed uppon Saterdaye in the mominge. 
There was a Showmaker also condemphed for wyllfuU 
murder comm3rtted in the Blacke firyers, who was exe- 
cuted uppon Mondaie in the mominge. The same 
daye my Lord Maior beinge absent abowte the goods 
of the Spannyards, and also all my Lords the Justices 
of the Benches beinge also awaye, we fewe that were 
there did spend the same dtiie abowte the searchinge 
out of sundrye that were receptors of ffdons, where we 
fownd a greate manye aswell in Londpn, Westminster, 
Sowthwarke, as in all other places abowte the same?^ 
Amongest our travells this one matter tumbled owt by 
the waye, that one Wotton a gentilman borne, and 
sometyme a marchauntt man of good credy te, who fall- 
inge by t)nme into decaye, kepte an Alehowse att 
Smarts keye neere Byllingesgate, and after, for some-^ 
mysdemeanor beinge put downe, he reared upp a 
newe trade of lyffe, and in the same Howse he pro- 
cured all the Cuttpurses abowt this Cittie to repaire to 
his said howse. There, was a schole howse sett upp to 
leame younge boyes to cutt purses. There were hung 
up two devises, the one was a pockett, the other was 
a purse. The pockett had in yt certen cownters and 
was hunge abowte with hawkes bells, and over the 
toppe did bannge a litle sacring bell ; and he that could 
take owt a cownter without any noyse, was allowed to 



^98 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. 

be a piiblique ffoyster : and he that could take a peece 
of sylver owt of the purse without the noyse of any of 
the bells, he was adjudged ajudicidU Nypper* Nota 
that a ffoister is a Pick-pockett, and a Nyj^er is termed 
a Pickepurse, or a Cutpurse. And as conceminge this 
% matter, I will sett downe noe more in this place, but 
referr your Lordship to the paper herein enclosed. 

Saterdaye and Sondaie beinge past, uppon Mondaie 
my Lord Maior,.my Lord Buckhurste, the M.' of the 
Rooles, my Lord Anderson, Mf Sackford Master of 
the Requests, SF Rowland Hay ward, my selffe, Mf 
Owen, and M! Younge, with the assystaunce of M? 
Attorney and M^ Solicitor, did arraigne one Awfeild, 
Webley, and Crabbe, for sparcinge al»*ood certen 
lewed, sedidous, and traytorous bookes ; Awfeild did 
most trayterously ma3rnte3nie the booke, with longe 
tedious and frivolous wordes and speaches. Webley 
did affirme as much as Awfeild had uttered. They 
are both executed thorough Gods goodnes and yo^ 
Lordshipps good helpe, as M'. Younge told me. There 
came a Letter to reprive Awfeild, yt was not well di- 
gested of as many as knewe of yt, but after all was 
well taken. When he was executed, his bodye was 
brought into SJ Pulchers to be buryed, but the par 
rishioners would not suffer a Traytor's corpes to be 
layed in the earthe where theire parents, wyeffs, chyl- 
dren, kynred, maisters, and old neighbors did rest: 
and so his carcase was retoumed to the buryall grounde 
neere Tybome, and there I leave yt. Crabbe surelye 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 299 

did renownce the Pope, and my Lords and the rest 
of the Benche moved M' Attorney and M' Solicitor 
to be a meane to her Maiestie for him, and for that 
cause he was stayed. Trewelye my Lord it is nothinge 
needfull to wrytte for the staye of any to be reprjrved, 
for there is not any in our Commyssion of London or 
Middlesex but we are desirous to save or staye any 
poore wretche, yf by color of any lawe or reason we 
maye dde ytt. My singler good Lord my Lord Wil- 
liam of Wynchester was wonte to saye, ** when the 
Courte is furthest from London, then is there the best 
justice done in all England.^ I once hard as great a 
parsonage in office and authoritye as ever He was, and 
yett lyvinge, saye the same wordes, Yt is growen for 
a trade nowe in the Courte to make meanes for re- 
pryves, twentie pownd for a reprive is nothinge, al- 
though it be but for bare tenn dales. I see it will not 
be holpen onles one honored gentilman, who many 
tymes is abused by wronge informacion (and suerUe 
uppon my sowle, not uppon any evi]l meaninge) do 
staye his penn. I have not one Letter for th6 staye 
of a theiffe from your Lordshippe. Fearinge that I 
trouble your Lordship with my tedious Lettres I end, 
this vij?» of Julie 1686. 

Your good Lordships moste humbly 

bownden 

W. FLETEWOODE 



SCO ORIGIXAL LETTKBS. 

At the endinge of this Lettre I received an othere, 
the which I will aunswere owt of hand. 

Upon Tewsdaie I satt in Jugement in the hustings, 
where M! Cure and his corporate bretheme the Sad- 
lers recovered xl^ land in a writ of right * Ion le mise 
fint ioyne sur le mere droit^ against one Beale. 

Upon Weddensday wee satt in Southwark abowt 
the Groneres where my cossen Holcroft accused and 
• de repetundis^ &c. 

Archana. 

There was one that is called Mf Abarrowe that 
was at the takynge of the Erie of Arundell, and had 
gotten into his hands of his nere abowte cocV in gold. 
He was commanded to brjmge the same to the LL. 
of the Sterre Chamber. His man carried it after hym 
even to the Sterre chamber doore and soddenly his 
man sterted away and tooke a boote, past into Sowth- 
#arke, devyded the money, and there by my warrant 
was taken, and in effect all the money was had agayne. 
Mt Abarrowe his Master was the lothest man in En- 
gland to have his man towched for this oiifence. I 
caused h3an to be indicted and arreigned. My lord 
Anderson todce it to be no fdlonye because his ma- 
ster delyvered hym the money. I sayd it was felonye 
by the common lawe, because the custodie and bearing 
of the money in his piasters presens was adjuged to 



OmOINAL LETTERS. 301' 

be as if it had ben in his masters owen custodie. As 
if my butler, my horse keper, my sheperd, or the yo- 
man of my warderobe do steale and imbesell any thinge 
in his charge this is felonye, and even so is it of my 
purse bearer. And if it were not felonye by the co- 
men lawe then was it by the statute, if the somme were 
above xl'. But I fearynge the matter might be called 
before my Lords, beinge a thing so notoriusly knowen, 
I caused the Jurie to fynd the speciall matter, and so it 
resteth. I do leme sithens that the ffelow had ben in 
tymes past servant to M' Smith the Clerk of the 
Pype, &c. 

The Names of a number ofMaisterles men and Cutt- 
purses whose practise is to robhe gentlemens Chambers 
and Artificers shoppes in and about London. 

Inprimis John Blewate a Staringe Robyn. 

lockesmithe, William Sayger. 

Thomas Byrche. Richard Doe. 

William Jackson. Nek. 

George Jones. - John Baker. 

Thomas Croe a burbor. William Holden. 

Thomas Hytchins alias Thomas Moore. 

Mekins. Jdhn Moorcrofte. 
John Middleton. Tiirfett."^ 

John Cooke. George Saytire. 



808 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



William Sponer. 

John Powlter. 

John Watts. 

Roger Raynsford alias 

Radford. 

.... Trustonne. 

William Coole. 

. . . . Johnson. 

Henrie Howell. 

William Etheridge. 

John Leryman. 

Welche Dycke. 

John Syson. 

Richard Syson. 

John Berry alias Bljrthe. 



Robert Leverett. 
William Crosse. 
Nicholas Skeeres. 
.... Barbor. 
Symond Askewe. 
Will" Sherman. 
Thomas Howse. 
Francis Hallowaye. 
William Hardinge. 
Wilfrid Hallowes. 
Nicholas Jones alias 
Wake. * 

Tliomas Huse. 
45. 



Harbor inge Howses for Maisterles Merij cmdfor 
such as hfoe by theifte and other such lyke Sheefis : 

viz*. 

/Richard Waterward at the Fawcon in 

Grace streate. 
Wottons howse at Smarts Keye. 



London. ( 



I The Guime att Byllingsgate. 



The Crowne at Byshopsgate. 
Mayden heade, by the Towre dyche. 
The Harrowe in Bedlem. 
The Rose at Fietebrydge. 



\ 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 303 

"The Styll in the Saynturie. 
The Beare and Ragged Stafe at Charinge 
Crosse. 
Westm. (The Redd Legge in the Paliace. 

The White horse in Tuttell streate. 
The White Lyon in the Sa3mtuarie. 
pne Auncient by the Abbey of Westm. 

(Bakers howse in Tummyll streate. 
The Blacke Lyon in Shordytche. 
Mugglestons howse in the White Chaple. 
fPressinge Yron in Sowthwarke. 
\The Roose at Newington Butts. 
Memorand. That in Wotton's howse at Smarts 
Keye are wrytten in a table divers Poysies, and 
among the rest one is this 

St spie sparte, si non spie, tunc steaJe. 
Another is thus 
Si spie, si non spie^ ffoyste^ i^ypp^i ^Ufi^f shave and 

spare not 
Note that ffoyste is to cutt a pockett, nyppe is to 
cutt a purse, lijift is to robbe a shoppe or a gentil- 
mans chamber, shave is to ffylche a clooke, a sword, 
a sylver sponne or such like, that is negligentlie look- 
ed unto. Nota, that mylken ken is to commytt a ro- 
borie or burgrul^ne in the night in a dwelling howse, 

&c. 

To the Right honourable 
and my synguler good Lord 
the Lord Highe Treasorer of 
England. 



«■ 



304* ORIGINAL LETTERS. 



LETTER CCXVII. 

Sir Francis Drake to Lord liurghlejj upon his missing 
the King qf Spain'' s Treasure. 

[ms. LAHSD.j^l. art. 14. Orig,\ 

*^ The following Letter of Sir Francis Drake, partakes of that spirit 
which, since the reign of Queen Elizabeth, has been so uniformly charac- 
teristic of the English seaman. 

He missed the treasure of the Indies, by only twelve hours sail ; ^' the 
cause best known to God." 

The gap said to have been opened, so little to the liking of the King of 
Spain, probably alludes to the cities of S^. Jago, S^ Domingo, Cartha- 
gena, and S^ Augustin, taken by him a few months before. 



Right honorable, having yeat in remembrance 
your Honors wyshe in your last Lettre, that the re- 
ceat of my Letter which I had written unto your Ho- 
nor a lyttel before had bynn dated rather from Cape 
Vemester^ then from Plymoth, I cannot omytt to 
geve your Honor now to understand that as we then 
slaked no possyble travell or dyllygence which myght 
any way belong to the handlyng of so great a dys- 
patche, so lett me assure your good LL. that I will 
make it most aparent unto your honor that it skaped 
us but twelfe owers, the hooU treasure which the Kyng 
of Spayne had out of the Yndyes this last yere. The 
cawse best knowen to Grod. And we ha.i at that in- 
stant very fowll wether. 

Mv very good Lord ther is now a very great gappe 

* Finisterre. 



OBIGINAL LETTERS. 305 

opened, very lettell to the lykyng of the Kyng of 
Spajme. God worke it all to his Glorye. 

These Gentlemen, the bearers hereof, have b3m 
actors and eye wyttnesses of all that is passed and can 
fiilly certtyfye your Honor of all particuUary te better 
then can be written : for which cawse I thowght it 
most meett to send them, as also more especyallye to 
declare the present estatt of our Shippes, munycyon, 
and men, being as I judge of no small vaUew to par- 
forme any good servis, yf her Majestic be offerred 
the occasyon of further imployment. 

It restethe therfore in your wysdoms to consyder 
and in lyke sort to derecte spedelley what coorse we 
have to follow. 

And further I most humbly beseche your good 
Lordshipe to affourd us your honorable good favoure, 
that som monyes may be had with suche exspedy- 
cyon for the present dyspatching of our powerer sort 
of men, whose travell and long absence desyreth a 
spedy dyspatch. 

The Some reqwyset for this dyspatch would be no 
lesse then syxe thowsand pounds: and in lewe therof 
ther shalbe, ether by land or sea, sent to the Tower, 
or wher or when your LL. shall take order, bollyon 
for it. And so humblye taking my leave of your 
good Lordshyp untyll suche tyme as your Lordship 
shall command me to way tt one your Lordshipe, when 
I shall geve your Honor som thing to understand, I 

VOL. II. X 



S06 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 

hope in God, to your Lordshippes good lykeng. 
From a bourd H&r Majesties shipe the Elisybethe 
Bonaventure this 26* July 1586. 

Yo*^ Ho. most bounden 

FEA. DRAKE. 

To the Right honorable 
the Lord High Treasorer 
of Yngknd^ one of Her 
Mijestie's Frerye CouncelL 
With speed* 



LETTER CCXVIII. 



Serjecmt Fleetwood to Lord Burghleyj upon an Insur-^ 
rection qftfie Apprentices of London, 

[ms. LAK8D. 49. art 4. Orig*] 

*«* The Appientices of London in early times were considered a for- 
midable body. Our chronicles represent them as being either the authors 
or abettors o( almost all the slighter Insurrections of the Metropolis. 

For an Account of Evil May Day mentioned in this Letter, an Insur- 
rection of the Apprentices of a more serious description, the reader is re- 
ferred to the old editions of Hall*s Chronide, foL 61. 9^ Hen. VIII. 
Grafton, fol. 1021. and Stow*s Annals, under the year 1517* 



Right Honorable and my singuter good Lord, this 
present daye from two of the clocke until syx, my Lo. 
Maior, with some of his bretheme th** Aldermen and 
myselffe, dyd examyne certene Apprentices for con- 
spiringe an insurrection in this Cittie agaynst the 
Frenche and Dutche, but speciallie against the 



ORIGINAL LETTERS. 307 

Frenche; a thinge as lyke unto yll Maye dale as could 
be devysed in all maimer of circumstamices, mvt(Ui$ 
mutandis^ ther wanted nothinge but execucicm. We 
have taken fyve, all of an age, yet all under xxj^* 
fower of them Darbishier borne ; the fyrste borne in 
Norhamshier. We are searchinge and seekinge for 
the principall Captayne; we hope we shall heare of 
him this night, for he hath ben workinge all this daie 
in the Whyt hall at Westminster, and at his cominge 
home we trust to have him. We have this night sett a 
standinge watche armed, from nyne until seven in the 
mominge, and doe meane to contynewe the same soe 
longe asyt shalbe thought convenient unto your honor 
and the resydewe of my Lords. 

M'. Alderman Woodcocke, who maryed the wydowe 
of M'. Lanyson shalbe buried uppon Moundaye next. 
S*^ Rowland Hayward is exstreame sicke and greatlie 
distressed (our Lord comfort him). My Ladie his 
wieffe is likewise verie sicke. 

This night M'^ Attorney Generall sent his man unto 
me to sett my hand and scale unto a warrant to sum- 
mon a Quest of enquirie to appeare to morowe att 
Westminster Hall. The Citizens, when they shall heare 
of yt, will lyke thereof verie well, for they all crye owt 
that justice maye be done uppon these Treators. The 
foresaid Apprentices, being of the Mysterie of Plas- 
torers, are comm)i;ted unto Newgate uppon the Quenes 
Highnes and her Councells commaundement, where 



808 OBI6INAL LETTERS. 

they are lyke to reina3me untill they be delivered by 
gpedall warrant. 

Here is presentlie noe other thinge worthie of wri- 
tinge. Wherefore I beseech Grod to preserve first her 
Ma*% and then yo' Lordship, -from all these Treators 
and such other wicked people. From the Guylde hall 
this present Twesdaie the sixt of September at seaven 
of the clocke in the eveninge 1586. 

Yo' Lo : most hmnble bownden 

W. FLETEWOODK. 

Att the sendinge away of my man this 
Weddensday momynge all the bells of Lon- 
don do ring for ioye, that, upon the 7 of this 
monethe, beinge as this dale, A^ ^ H. 8. 
her Grace was borne. There wilbe this daie 
but speciaUy great ifeastinge at supper. I 
have ben bidden owt this night to supper in 

vj. or vij. places. 

To the Right Honorahle 
and my singuler goodLo. the 
Lo. Treasorer of England^ at 
the Courte. 



END OF VOL. II. 



LONDON : 

PRIKTED BY THOMAS DAVISON", WHITEFRIARS. 



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